Rome takes precautionary measures as temperatures drop.

Rome's civil protection authority has distributed "significant quantites of salt" to all areas of the capital as the city prepares for the outside chance of snow on Thursday 24 January.

Rome can expect a drop in temperature and several days of heavy rain, according to a weather alert issued by the city, including the risk of thunderstorms.

However, despite widespread reports in local media, talk of snow is "still premature" according to the head of Rome's civil protection agency Diego Porta.

In February 2018 snow led to the closure of Rome's schools for two days.