Children of all ages are delighting in the winter wonderland on this Monday, January 5, 2026. Since early afternoon, snow has been falling across Paris, creating stunning postcard-perfect scenes around the Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre, the Esplanade des Invalides, and Place de la Concorde. Thanks to the unusually low temperatures, this delicate blanket of snow is clinging to the sidewalks, streets, and rooftops throughout the city.
However, this snowstorm is not without its repercussions, especially for drivers, as the Île-de-France Department of Roads reports over 1,000 km of traffic jams! The Paris Police Prefecture has even decided to limit speeds to 80 km/h across the Île-de-France region.
Level 3 Snow and Ice Alert in Île-de-France: What Restrictions Are in Place?
New snowfall hits Île-de-France on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. The Police Prefect has activated Snow and Ice Plan Level 3, imposing stricter restrictions from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.: speed is limited to 70 km/h, and heavy trucks are banned from the main road network. [Read more]
Traffic is also expected to be challenging for public transport users. On Monday morning, Transilien SNCF issued a warning about possible disruptions, particularly on the RER and Transilien networks. Meanwhile, the RATP announced that bus services were suspended this Monday evening. But the worst is yet to come. According to Météo France in their latest bulletin, "severe frosts are expected again overnight, which will lead to the freezing of this fresh snow and the formation of white ice, making roads even more slippery across Île-de-France." To prevent this icing, trains, trams, and metro services will run empty overnight. The RATP confirmed this information to our colleagues at BFMTV on Monday.
"To prevent freezing on its rail network", the RATP "will run trains around the clock on all tram lines, as well as certain metro and RER lines that have sections above ground", announced the Paris public transport authority. Additionally, the "Snow and Ice Plan for surface networks (buses and trams)" has been activated, with increased monitoring of road conditions and regular updates in collaboration with prefectural authorities,"
Snowstorm in Paris: Bus Services Halted This Monday Evening
Bus operations in Paris have been suspended due to snowfall, as Île-de-France is under an orange alert for snow and ice today, January 5, 2026. Several RER lines are experiencing disruptions, making travel significantly more challenging for commuters. [Read more]
Level 3 Snow and Ice Alert in Île-de-France: What Restrictions Are in Place?
