Drivers who have equipped themselves with snow chains have once again taken to the roads heading for the French ski slopes after snow, ice and heavy traffic forced some 15,000 people into emergency overnight accommodation during the peak winter holiday season, reports The Telegraph.
Only 7,000 drivers out of the 36,000 expected were able to reach their destination on Saturday in Savoie, one of the Alpine regions, according to the Interior Ministry.
Authorities said the weather conditions, not unusual for the time of year but severe enough to make driving hazardous given the number of vehicles on the roads, were set to improve in the afternoon and on Monday.
Snowfalls of 30 to 60 centimetres (12 to 24 inches) over the past 24 hours led them to declare an "orange alert" for snow and ice in four departments of eastern and southeastern France; Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Ain and Isère.
"Getting to the ski stations is still pretty tricky and snow chains are mandatory. The advice is that all those who can should delay their journey," said the transport ministry in a statement.
The ministry of the interior said some of the 83 emergency shelters that received stranded motorists overnight would stay open to help reduce the level of traffic and cater for those not equipped with snow chains.