1.
GV SNOW FALLING IN STREET
0.06

2.
SV MEN CLEARING SNOW
0.10

3.
LV SNOW-PLOUGH WORKING
0.13

4.
SV TRAVELLING SHOT, SHEEP ON ROAD
0.17

5.
CU MAN WAVES TRAFFIC ON
0.20

6.
CU SNOWPLOUGH WORKING
0.47

7.
LV SNOW-COVERED ROAD
0.53

8.
SV MAN CLEARS SNOW FROM CAR
0.56

9.
SV SNOW-COVERED VEHICLE
0.59

10.
LV SNOW ON TREES
1.02

11.
SV MAN WALKS THROUGH SNOW
1.10

12.
SV CAR ALONG ROAD
1.18



Initials JT/S/WH/SGM


EDITORS: SEE ALSO PROD. NO. 102211/63 (17 DEC) -- RE SNOWFALLS IN MARSEILLES

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FLOODS, BLIZZARDS, TORRENTIAL RAIN, LANDSLIDES AND BITING COLD SWEPT PARTS OF EUROPE TODAY (WEDNESDAY).IT WAS THE THIRD SUCCESSIVE DAY OF STORMY WEATHER.

TWO OF THE WORST AREAS AFFECTED BY THE BLIZZARDS HAVE BEEN THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN REGIONS OF ITALY.WITH NO LET-UP IN SIGHT, THOSE LIVING IN CENTRAL ITALY ARE ALMOST ASSURED OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS.

SNOW IN DECEMBER IS UNUSUAL IN THIS REGION, ALTHOUGH NOT IN THE NORTH.SNOWPLOUGHS HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO CLEAR ROADS, WHILE LIVESTOCK ARE BEING MOVED TO LOWER GROUND.

SCORES OF ROADS HAVE BEEN CLOSED, ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE 30 CENTIMETRES OF SNOW HAVE BEEN RECORDED ON THE PASSES.WORKERS ARE TRYING TO GET THEM REOPENED IN TIME FOR THE CHRISTMAS EXODUS TO THE SOUTH.IT'S COLD WORK -- TEMPERATURES HAVE PLUMMETED TO AS LOW AS MINUS 22 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT (30 DEGREES BELOW ZERO CENTIGRADE).

ROMANS AND NEAPOLITANS ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME, TOO.THUNDERSTORMS HAVE LASHED ROME, WHILE IN THE NORMALLY-SUNNIER SOUTH, WIND-LASHED WAVES CRASHED ON TO STREETS ALONG THE BAY OF NAPLES.