Italians to ring in cold weather along with the new year

(ANSA) - Rome, December 29 - Italians will be ringing in a crisp, cold new year with forecasters predicting a chill throughout much of the country in the week ahead.
    From Tuesday through at least Thursday, cold temperatures and strong winds from the Arctic will prevail, according to meteorologists at the Epson Weather Centre.
    The thermometer will drop to as low as 10 degrees below zero C in Italy's north, where clear skies will contribute to intense night chills.
    Snow is expected to extend south, including high parts of Le Marche region, forecasters warn.
    Rain will cover much of southern Calabria and Sicily, forecasters say.
    "(Tuesday) we will see the big chill across Italy a sharp Arctic wind that will bring snow to high areas, even along the Adriatic coast," forecasters said.