heavy snowfalls. Thirty-two French departments, or administrative regions, have been warned on December 16

An inhabitant of the northern village of Locon (near Bethune) cleans the snow-covered pavement on December 17, 2010, after heavy snowfalls. Thirty-two French departments, or administrative regions, have been warned on December 16, that they face snow and ice over the next 24 hours, with up to five centimetres forecast for the Paris region. The French government was accused last week of being unprepared for the sudden snowstorm and this time round is taking more precautions, with an interministerial crisis cell up and running since early December 16

People cross the snow-covered Bourse square in Paris, on December 08, 2010.

Cars are stuck in a traffic-jam on December 8, 2010 at the entrance of Paris. Heavy snow briefly shut Charles de Gaulle-Roissy airport, paralysed the Paris bus network and forced the operators of the Eiffel Tower to close the landmark tourist attraction on Wednesday, officials said

Cars are stuck in a traffic-jam on December 8, 2010 at the entrance of Paris. Heavy snow briefly shut Charles de Gaulle-Roissy airport, paralysed the Paris bus network and forced the operators of the Eiffel Tower to close the landmark tourist attraction on Wednesday, officials said.

A man rides his bicycle on December 8, 2010 at the entrance of Paris. Heavy snow briefly shut Charles de Gaulle-Roissy airport, paralysed the Paris bus network and forced the operators of the Eiffel Tower to close the landmark tourist attraction on Wednesday, officials said.

A woman pulls a sledge on December 8, 2010 in Reims. The Interior Ministry said it had mobilised 5,000 paramilitary gendarmes, including 2,000 in the Paris area, to deal with traffic problems as roads were expected to become increasingly icy overnight due to heavy snow falls.

A man walks towards a car which ended up in a ditch on December 17, 2010 in Godewaersvelde, northern France after heavy snowfalls. Thirty-two French departments, or administrative regions, have been warned on December 16, that they face snow and ice over the next 24 hours, with up to five centimetres forecast for the Paris region. The French government was accused last week of being unprepared for the sudden snowstorm and this time round is taking more precautions, with an interministerial crisis cell up and running since early December 16.

Highlands cows (Angus) are pictured in a field covered by snow in the French village of La Petite Pierre, eastern France on December 17, 2010.

Traffic is stopped on a snow-covered road in Fougères, northwestern France on December 18, 2010. Snow and ice in France forced hundreds of drivers to abandon their cars, caused major disruption to flights at Paris airports and shut down half of Eurostar trains to London.