Northern Italy has been hit by a major snow storm which over the past 24 hours has dumped some 30cm of snow with more expected on Friday. The storm is the result of a warm front rising up from the lower Mediterranean and a cold air moving down from Russia, which was recorded record low temperatures over the past two weeks.
The Italian northwest has been hit hardest by the storm which has created major road traffic problems while several airports have been shut down or are running on reduced schedules.
Snow is also intense in neighboring France where authorites have banned trucks from the highway. This has forced some 700 truck on the Italian side to stop at the border in Ventimiglia. Police have urged motorists to avoid travel throughout the north and trucks have been ordered to stay off motorways in several provinces at least until noon.
In Milan, Deputy mayor Riccardo De Corato told residents and commuters to leave their cars at home and sue public transports.
Departures were suspended Friday morning at Milan's Linate and Malpensa airports but some landings were permitted.
The situation is a bit better in Turin, which is probably the only city to welcome to the snow because of next month's Olympic Winter games there.
Turin's airport is open although there are delays and cancellations.
Trenitalia railways said its service will be running in the north but that delays are expected.
