Snow and ice alert for 19 departments

DRIVERS are warned that overnight snow and ice will make travel treacherous in 19 departments in northwest France.

France’s national weather forecaster Météo-France has issued an orange weather alert in le Nord, Pas-de-Calais, la Somme, l'Aisne, l'Oise, Paris, la Seine-Saint-Denis, les Hauts-de-Seine, le Val-de-Marne, les Yvelines, l'Essonne, le Val-d'Oise, la Seine-Maritime, l'Eure, l'Eure-et-Loir, le Maine-et-Loire, la Mayenne, l'Orne, and la Sarthe.

Travel to northern ports are likely to be affected.

The alert runs from midnight tonight until noon on Saturday. The wintry front will first affect coastal departments before moving inland.

Météo-France predicts that early rain, sleet and snow will fall on already frozen ground, and will be followed by freezing temperatures.

Photo: Piande