Paris - The two main airports of the French capital Paris were closed late Monday after the national weather service forecast the arrival of a storm packing heavy rains and winds of more than 100 kilometres per hour (kph).

The ban imposed by the French Civil Aviation Agency (DGAC) on flights landing at and taking off from Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports was to be enforced at 1900 GMT and remain in effect until at least 0900 GMT Tuesday.

According to the weather service France-Meteo, the second severe storm to batter France this winter was expected to reach the country's Atlantic coast in early evening with winds of at least 140 kph.

As a result, much of northern and western France was under a severe weather alert for late Monday and Tuesday morning. (dpa)