SNOW COVERS ROOFTOPS AND GROUND AT NICE; SNOW ON PALM TREES; ORANGES AND TREES; CARS ON ICY ROADS; ROAD CRITTING; CHILDREN PLAY IN SNOW.




Initials GHB/VS/CR/PC



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Background: A LATE CHRISTMAS SNOWFALL HIT THE FRENCH RIVIERA TODAY (MONDAY) AND COVERED THE NEAR-TROPIC VEGETATION WITH SEVERAL INCHES (CENTIMETRES) OF SNOW. ROADS HAD TO BE GRITTED AND DRIVERS EXERCISED EXTRA CARE ON THE TWISTING CORNICHES IN THE NICE AREA.

THE LUSH PALMS AND ORANGE TREES IN THE USUALLY MILD AND SUNNY RESORT OF NICE WERE TRANSFORMED TO CHRISTMAS CARD SCENES, BUT THE CHILDREN WELCOMED THE CHANGE OF PLAYING IN THE SELDOM-SEEN SNOW.

SNOW ALSO FELL IN SEVERAL PARTS OF ITALY TODAY AND ROME EXPERIENCED ITS SECOND FALL IN TWO DAYS.