Day: 4 January 2024

Over the coming days and into the start of next week, it’s going to feel significantly colder in the Principality of Monaco and the French Riviera. In some places, temperatures will be as much as half – if not more – of what has been experienced so far in 2024, and Météo France is warning of potential snowfall even at “low altitude”. 

Nationally, according to Météo France, temperatures will fall by an average of 10°C over the next few days. 

The main driver is that an anticyclone is heading in France’s direction for the weekend, bringing with it generally “dry, sunny but cold” weather with “noticeable wind” for much of the country.  

SNOW, ICE AND FROSTS 

Down in the southeastern corner of France, however, meteorologists are forecasting more “unsettled conditions”.

A bulletin released by Météo France on Wednesday 3rd January notes, “It will then be necessary to monitor the risk of snow at low altitude, particularly in the PACA region, at the start of [next] week.” 

The ski stations of the region are anticipating good snowfall throughout Friday 5th January as well as on-and-off next week.

The coldest weather has been announced from Sunday through to Tuesday, with icy conditions and widespread frost predicted for almost all of the country. Météo France’s forecast indicates that “only a few coastal areas in the northeast and southeast could escape it”. 

In Monaco, the coldest day of next week looks to be Wednesday, when the daytime maximum is unlikely to exceed 7°C. 

At the start of next week, Météo France is forecasting that maximum daily temperatures will struggle to get above 0°C in a “good half of the country”, however the Mediterranean coast is expected to get off more lightly.

If this does indeed come to pass, the national thermal indicator could fall below the symbolic 0°C mark for the first time since February 2018.  

HEAVY RAIN ON FRIDAY 

Right across the south of France, which cocoons the Principality of Monaco on three sides, Météo France has forecast considerable rainfall for Friday 5th January.

Given the likelihood of strong winds accompanying the driving rain, the Mairie de Monaco has announced that the events planned in the Village de Noël for that day have been rescheduled. The M.Orange concert has been brought forwards to Thursday 4th January at 6.30pm while the Merveilleuses Princesses parade has been pushed back to the closing day of the Christmas Village, Sunday 7th January, at 6.30pm.  

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The Soldes d’Hiver – or Winter Sales in English – officially began in Monaco on 2nd January, giving shoppers who didn’t get their fill during the Christmas period a chance at nabbing some amazing deals from their favourite brands and shops.  

Monaco’s sales periods are set by ministerial decree and are limited to two sessions each year. In 2024, the winter sales will be taking place until 15th February, while the summer dates have already been set for 28th June to 12th August.  

Merchants selling sporting goods, however, have a different schedule this winter. Sales for this sector are delayed until 15th February and will run to 31st March. The summer schedule syncs up with the rest of the retail industry.  

RETAIL COMPETITION 

Monegasque businesses have the jump on the French, whose winter sales don’t begin until 10th January and run only until 6th February.

“We start the sales earlier and we end them later. It is a small advantage,” says Alexandre Pasta, the president of the Union des Commerçants et Artisans de Monaco. “People wait for this period to get good deals.” 

See more: A guide to the best shopping malls in and around Monaco

The competition from online retailers is, nonetheless, still a present threat.  

“We are facing a dilemma. The internet is a source of competition, but merchants are rethinking and expanding their offerings through these channels,” says Pasta. 

But despite these challenges, the retail industry is strong in Monaco and 2023 was a positive year for its shop owners and franchises.  

“We know that Monaco is a diamond and that our merchants will continue to have shops,” he concludes.  

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