North-western Europe remains in the grip of unseasonable weather. A snowstorm earlier this week, only a few days before the official start of spring on March 20, caused widespread travel chaos with the cancellation of hundreds of flights and the suspension of train services including cross-Channel Eurostar trains.
France was the worst affected by the snowstorm but Belgium, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands also reported major disruptions.
About 69,000 homes were without power in France on Wednesday, including about 30,000 that lost electricity after the snowstorm moved south into the Alps.
Services were returning to normal in France, with the Paris Metro and suburban train services running, though buses were cancelled because of icy road conditions.
The icy conditions were causing road closures and slowdowns, in particular in the north of France, but highways were gradually opening as snowdrifts were cleared and vehicles stranded during the snowstorm were recovered.
The sun was shining in Paris, where buildings were covered in a picturesque blanket of snow and a lone cross-country skier was seen on the Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower. The temperature was -5 degrees Celsius, well below seasonal averages.
http://lci.tf1.fr/france/en-direct-neige-29-departements-en-alerte-neige-en-abondance-7877303.html
