VIENNA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Heavy snowfall continued to hit large parts of Austria on Sunday, causing road closures, traffic accidents and congestion, and a high risk of avalanches, local media reported.

The Tauern Motorway (A10) near Flachau im Pongau had to be closed again for one hour in order to blast off avalanches in a controlled manner, it reported.

Numerous roads were closed due to the lasting snowfall and the avalanche danger on the northern side of the Alps.

Road closures have cut off several villages and in Lower Austria and Upper Austria, thousands of households were without electricity, media reported.

Numerous traffic accidents have also been reported due to the poor conditions, leaving several people injured. Traffic jams have also occurred along several motorways, making people's return journey from holidays over the Christmas break difficult.

The Central Bureau of Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG) does not expect an easing of conditions over the weekend, with up to two meters more snow a possibility.