Up to 200 Irish holidaymakers are reportedly stranded at an airport in the French Alps because of heavy snow.
A number of roads across France have been closed after the country declared an orange weather alert yesterday in 19 regional departments.
The Irish group - who have been stuck at Chambery Airport for over 24 hours - had been travelling with Crystal Ski.
In a statement, the company said they have been working overnight with the airlines, airport and local authorities to arrange flights home today, either out of Chambery or surrounding airports.
Around 15,000 vehicles were reportedly stuck in the French Alps as heavy snow blanketed roads leading to the region's popular ski resorts.
The snow and ice hit as holidaymakers travelled to and from ski resorts in the Savoie region in southeastern France.
Authorities set up shelters in 12 towns to cope with the number of travellers forced to leave their cars.
The freezing conditions caused the death of a 27-year-old man whose car slid into a ravine in the Belledonne mountain range.
France's Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has urged drivers "to exercise the utmost caution" and asked drivers to delay their journeys if possible.
Regional authorities say they have activated an emergency plan to re-house stranded holidaymakers unable to reach their destinations.
The Ministry said 20 locations were being opened to look after stranded holidaymakers.
Ski journalist Ben Clatworthy, who is based in St Martin de Belleville, said that French authorities are doing their best to cope.
"They have opened schools and sports centres for the evening here," he said.
"There are 150 people staying in the sports centre... and at another resort there are 300 people bedding down in temporary accommodation.
"I was speaking with someone earlier who said it had taken them ten hours to get to the bottom of the valley in a journey that would normally take one hour."
France's meteorological services said they are expecting more snowfall and "significant re-freezing".
Pictures taken in Brides les Bains by resident Eric Bouvier show stranded cars and coaches on the route to the Courchevel ski resort.
Originally posted at 10.24am
