– Massive snowfall traps thousands in French Alps (Ice Age Now, Dec 28, 2014):
Officials open emergency shelters in at least 12 towns.
France’s Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve urged drivers “to exercise the utmost caution” and asked those who could delay their trips to do so.
The country declared an orange weather alert — one step under the maximum red alert — in 19 regional departments.
France’s meteorological services expect more snowfall and “significant re-freezing” overnight and warn of slippery roads.
A few kilometres outside the industrial northern city, thousands of illegal migrants living in makeshift camps struggled through a second night of freezing temperatures.
“The storm blew away a lot of tents — some now have nothing.”
See photos:
http://www.france24.com/en/20141228-massive-snowfall-leaves-thousands-stranded-french-alps-chaos-savoie/