Heavy snow in Paris this afternoon caused severe disruption to transport
throughout the city and surrounding area. 11 cm snow fell in Paris - the
greatest depth since 1987 - and up to 20 cm in Yvelines department, causing
chaos in public transport and on the roads and the closure of Roissy and
Orly airports.

http://info.france2.fr/france/tempet...-66239577.html

http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/LFPG.html

http://info.france2.fr/france/tempet...01012081920_F2
- 2 videos

Thousands of motorists were trapped in traffic jams in the early evening
throughout the Paris area.

Bus services were "totally paralysed" and the metro and trains were running
at reduced speed.

TGVs arrived at and departed from Paris at reduced speed causing delays of
15 to 30 minutes.

The Regional Traffic Information Centre said that driving had become
"impossible for all vehicles on major motorways and on secondary roads."
From 15.00 on Wednesday until further notice HGVs have been banned from the
roads throughout the region.

The Minister of the Interior announced that 5000 policemen and gendarmes,
including 2000 in the Ile de France (Paris region), were being mobilised to
try to keep traffic moving.

At Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport, 20% of flights were cancelled and the
airport was shut completely for a time at the end of the afternoon before
reopening at 17.15. Orly Airport was also closed for a time.

About 50 municipalities in Yvelines department have opened reception centres
for people stranded on the roads.

The whole of the road network in the department is saturated, making it
impossible for the gritting lorries to get through, according to the
Yvelines prefecture. It advised avoiding all travel, and has set up a
crisis centre.

Colin Youngs
Brussels