A massive snowfall across south-central France has hit a number of towns and villages, disrupting traffic and causing electricity outages in almost 200,000 households, Reuters reported, citing officials.
Auverge-Rhone-Alpes and regions south and west of Lyon were the main areas hit by the unexpected and unseasonal snowstorms.
Around 900 trucks were stranded during the night by the heavy snowfall. In addition, several hundred drivers left their cars hoping to find a warmer and safer refuge to wait until morning.
Local residents turned to Twitter to share images of uncommonly thick snow for this time of the year.