(ANSA) - Bolzano, October 23 - Parts of the northern Italian region of Alto Adige (South Tyrol) woke to heavy snow cover Thursday, raising speculation about a possible early start to the winter ski season.
Fire fighters in the Puster Valley town of Bruneck received numerous calls in relation to fallen tress, blocked roads and awnings that had collapsed under the weight of the snow. Roads and mountain passes were closed as a safety measure as the temperature struggled to rise above zero. Further south in the central Abruzzo region snow fell on the highest peaks starting Wednesday afternoon, while on Thursday morning the temperature in the regional capital L'Aquila was three degrees.
Early snow in Alto Adige, Abruzzo
Cold snap raises speculation of early start to ski season