11.02.2010 0
Provence Côte d'Azur: Vigilance advised in the Alpes-Maritimes as weather warning issued
Rain and snow create hazardous driving conditions
Méteo France was correct in its prediction this morning for heavy rain and lots of snow today. As a result the Préfecture of the Alpes-Maritimes has issued a severe weather warning to people travelling. With snow continuing to fall heavily across the region drastic measures have been taken to ensure the safety of drivers.
The highway is closed between Adrets in the Var and Italy. Vehicles must get off the motorway at exit 38 in the direction of Aix-Italy and exit 48 in the direction of Italy - Aix. All motorway entrances are closed between Brignoles and Italy. Vehicles coming from the Var are stuck at Antibes.
Trucks are prohibited in both directions. A turn-around point has been established at La Turbie for trucks coming from Italy. At Fréjus - The Capitou, trucks are stuck in traffic on the motorway.
Cannes and Grasse are completely paralysed as heavy snow continues. The situation is bad between Cannes and Grasse with 300 vehicles stranded on the penetrante.
In Nice snow is falling but little is sticking. The city’s buses and trams are still operating. However, buses to the hills have been cancelled due to the snow.
At Nice airport, some flights have been diverted to Marseilles or Rome.
There is even snow in Monaco.
In the eastern part of the Var at Adrets-de-L'Esterel, Escota has announced 40cm of snow on the motorway.
Residents in the region are asked to limit use of electricity to avoid power cuts.
The Préfecture des Alpes-Maritimes is encouraging government agencies and private companies to allow their employees to leave work and go home as soon as possible as road conditions are worsening.
The weather department remains cautious on how conditions will develop later in the day as lower temperatures may cause even more snow near the coast. More snow in the mountains is expected. This is on top of the heavy snowfalls, which have already fallen in the last few days and have not yet stabilised. Conditions are treacherous. The utmost vigilance is necessary.
All exits from the mountains apart from the ski resorts are prohibited.
Advice
- Seek advice on the condition of and whether high altitude roads are open before attempting to drive on them
- Comply with instructions and safety procedures in force for ski stations and mountain villages
- Listen to radio news for the road networks on RADIO TRAFIC on 107.7 FM or the local French or English-language radio stations e.g. Riviera Radio (106.5FM) and Radio International (88.4 FM)
- For up to the minute information : Call the Centre d’Information et Gestion du Trafic (CIGT) on 08 05 05 06 06
- For more general information concerning weather conditions : Call Météo France on 32 50
PF
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