More heavy May snow forecast

Three departments remain on orange weather alert for snow and ice, after parts of the country woke up on Sunday to see heavy falls.

Météo France's second highest weather warning has been maintained for another day in Ardèche, Haute-Loire and Lozère. The current weather alert is set to run until 6am on Tuesday.

The "late and notable" snowfall, which the national forecaster warned could lead to travel disruption over an important holiday period, could see snowfalls of more than 30cm at higher altitudes.

"On the Lozère side, a few centimetres of snow will settle between 900m and 1,000m, 10cm to 30cm between 1,000m and 1,100m - and locally more than 30cm to the east of the department above 1,100m," forecasters said.

In the Ardèche and Haute-Loire, forecasters predict about 35cm of snow at altitudes of 1,300m and higher and five to 10cm around 1,000m.

La Chaine Meteo reported that up to 40cm of snow were recorded in parts of the Massif Central and Pyrenees on Sunday, but added that heavy late snow is not unusual.

Meanwhile, many people posted snow images on Twitter.