Several ski resorts in the Alps have announced they've closed their entire ski areas for the day due to the severe weather that is hitting much of central Europe.
Resorts in the Western Alps seem to have been the most severely impacted so far with Alpe d'Huez, Avoriaz and most sectors in the Chamonix Valley announcing they're closed today, whilst many other big areas have only a few lifts close to the resort base operating.
The storm which is expected to last until Friday may bring up to 2.4m (8 feet) or snowfall and wind speeds of up to 200 kph (125 mph). Extreme temperature fluctuations are also expected which could mean torrential rain storms despite it being well below freezing on the ground. All of this will lead to very unstable snow conditions.
Not only will the avalanche danger be extremely high but there is also a danger to pedestrians in resort villages from falling snow or falling in to dips in the ground hidden by snow and resorts are warning the safest thing to do is to try to remain indoors until the storm passes.