Freezing weather for week ahead

WRAP UP well for a cold week ahead. That is the warning from Météo France as it warns of intense cold which is expected to beat previous records, with temperatures rarely climbing above zero.

Coming after one of the warmest and driest years on record, it is a severe wake-up call with minimum temperatures between -1C and -7C expected in the south-west, and -8C in the north. The only place with daytime temperatures above 0C will be the Mediterranean coast with 6C or 8C.

A strong north-east wind will make things even colder. With the freeze expected to last a week, the lowest temperatures are expected towards the end of this week.

The ground will stay frozen for some time afterwards bringing an increased risk of black ice on the roads.

Rhône-Alpes region will be particularly badly affected - with temperatures dropping to -10C in the lowlands, -15C higher up and -20C at the ski stations - and the prefect has already requisitioned a sports hall in Lyon for use as emergency accommodation.

Snow storms which have swept across France over the past two days have caused the death of one driver in Isère whose car skidded into a truck. In Rhône, at Solaize, a school bus with 50 children on board crashed on ice, injuring four of the youngsters.

February is traditionally the coldest month of the year but this cold snap is exceptional. The last really cold period was in 1997.

See weather predictions from Météo France here

Weather graphic: Météo France