Eiffel Tower closed as Paris hammered by rain and snow

Closure comes after French authorities warned of dangerous conditions across a quarter of the country

People stroll on the snow-covered Champ de Mars during a snowfall in Paris, France, on Friday, 9 February (AP)

The Eiffel Tower was closed as snow and freezing rain hammered France.

The company that manages France’s most-visited monument said the 19th-century structure would be closed at the start of the weekend “to ensure the security of visitors.”

Workers with hand shovels were carefully clearing snow from the landmark’s intricate ironwork and de-icing stairs and platforms.

The company said they could not use salt because it could corrode the tower’s metal and damage its heavily used lifts.

French authorities also told drivers in the Paris region to stay home on Friday due to the inclement weather.

Heavy snowfall earlier this week trapped hundreds of drivers in cars and caused the worst-ever traffic jams in the area surround the French capital.

Officials had warned of dangerous conditions in about one-fourth of the country following forecasts of more snow.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Chicago struggled to cope with a huge winter storm that dumped 23cm of snow on the city.

It caused dozens of crashes on the roads and forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

Across the US some 1,250 flights were grounded and wind chill temperatures were expected to drop below -18C (0F) in many areas across the mid-west.

AP/Reuters