Orange alert for snow and black ice on the roads

A total of 25 departments are on orange alert for dangerous weather conditions today, including snow and black ice in the centre-east in Ain, Allier, Adèche, Cantal, Drôme, Gard, Isère, Loire, Haute-Loire, Lozère, Nièvre, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône and Saône-et-Loire.

In the north 11 departments are under alert for risks of floods: Aube, Eure, Marne, Paris, Seine-Maritime, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne and Val-d'Oise.

Black ice and snow risks are expected to continue until late tonight and are not considered extraordinary for the time of year but are expected to cause congestion on the roads.

In Ardèche and Lozère public transport including school buses has been cancelled until 19.00 on a decision of the prefect and school transport has also been cancelled in Lozère and Gard.