Civil protection authorities have issued a weather alert for northern Italy and the central region of Tuscany due to the arrival of a major storm from Scandinavia.
The authorities also suggested that anyone planning to return from the Christmas holidays on Tuesday should move up their departure to avoid the bad weather.
Snow and freezing rain is expected to move in over the north in the early hours of Tuesday and extend towards central Italy.
Anyone travelling by road has been advised to have chains in their car or truck as well as ample water and snacks in the event they get stuck in traffic.
While snow and ice will be a problem in the north, the rest of Italy will be hit by high winds and heavy rain.
The bad weather will continue for most of the week with clearing beginning in the northeast late Thursday and extending over the rest of the north on Friday.
Skies will clear over central Italy on Saturday and over the south, with the exception of Sicily, on Sunday.
