Milan's Malpensa and Linate airports are closed at least until 1:00 pm (1200 GMT), a spokesman told AFP as snow continued to fall in Milan, reaching up to 30 centimetres (a foot) in some places and snarling public transport.

In Turin, which was also under some 30 centimetres of snow, flights were cancelled from 2:00 am Wednesday.

More area schools closed down, following several closures in the Turin and Milan areas on Tuesday.

The Bergamo airport was closed at least for Wednesday morning, with some flights diverted to Verona.

While the Genoa airport remained open, one runway was blocked by a plane that was grounded because of ice on the wings.