Thousands in France without power in storm aftermath
Over 41,000 homes across France are without power today (Wednesday January 30), as snow and ice alerts remain in 15 departments, after Storm Gabriel swept the country last night.
Heavy snow and high winds of up to 133 kph caused significant problems on the roads, and brought down major electricity wires.
The Oise, Aisne and Somme; with over 10,000 homes without power.
M茅t茅o France had placed 41 departments on alert - including Paris and surroundings - before the storm hit.
Today, the forecaster has warned of snowfall of 5-15 cm in the departments still on orange (second-most severe) alert. Fran莽ois Jobard, from M茅t茅o France, 鈥渋ntense鈥� snow that 鈥渨ould stick鈥�.
Transport minister Elisabeth Borne has reminded drivers to remain 鈥渆specially careful鈥�, and to avoid driving unless 100% necessary throughout Wednesday.
Some major roads remain closed across the country, and the circulation of heavy goods vehicles remains restricted or banned. School transport is largely cancelled in affected areas.
In Paris, despite some delays yesterday, the RATP bus lines and M茅tro are running mainly normally, as are the A and B RER train lines. There is still disruption on the RER C, D and E lines, with some services cancelled completely due to fallen trees.
The full list of departments still on alert is:
Aisne, Ardennes, Aube, Aveyron, C么te-d'Or, Marne, Haute-Marne, Meuse, Ni猫vre, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais, Sa么ne-et-Loire, Somme, and Yonne.
