Weather alerts expanded from 16 to 30 departments by mid-morning, with temperatures dropping to -33°C in Jura. The administration activated level 2 snow protocols in Île-de-France, reducing speed limits.
Two Algerian social media influencers faced detention for threats against France, while farmers announced plans to surround Paris with tractors. Mayotte's post-cyclone crisis deepened, with one-third of households still lacking electricity three weeks after Cyclone Chido.
By evening, Claude Allègre's death at 87 dominated coverage. The former Education Minister under Jospin, known for his "mammoth-trimming" reforms and later climate skepticism, received extensive coverage across the political spectrum. His passing occurred as France faced its most severe winter weather in decades, an ironic context given his stance on climate science.
The orange alert remained active in 22 departments by nightfall, with one weather-related fatality reported in Burgundy.