A brutal and intensifying cold wave is gripping Europe, unleashing powerful winter storms, heavy snowfall, and sub-zero temperatures that have crippled travel across the continent. According to Reuters, the extreme weather has led to days of chaos, stranding thousands at airports and train stations, with authorities warning that more flights will be cancelled, trains halted, and roads blocked.
Air Travel Brought to a Standstill
Air travel has been hit the hardest by the fierce winter conditions. In the Netherlands, authorities urged residents to stay home as another blizzard was forecast. Dutch airline KLM cancelled 600 flights on Wednesday, adding to 400 cancellations the day before, to pre-empt last-minute chaos at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, one of Europe's busiest hubs.
The airline explicitly asked passengers with cancelled flights to avoid the airport to reduce congestion. A company spokesman stated, "We haven’t seen weather this extreme for years," noting that the carrier was overwhelmed with rebooking inquiries. The situation was so dire that more than 1,000 passengers were forced to spend the night at Schiphol, where officials provided camp beds and breakfasts.
The disruption was equally severe in France. By Wednesday morning, approximately 100 flights were cancelled at Paris Charles de Gaulle and another 40 at Orly Airport due to snow and freezing conditions, compounding the continental travel nightmare.
Rail and Road Networks Paralyzed
The cold snap has not spared ground transportation. Rail services across Europe have been severely impacted. In the Netherlands, all domestic train operations were suspended early Tuesday after an IT failure worsened the weather-related disruption. While some services resumed later, significant issues persisted around Amsterdam, where Eurostar trains to Paris faced cancellations and delays.
Road networks have also suffered tragic consequences. In France, while conditions gradually improved, the storm claimed lives. At least five people were killed in snow-related accidents. The scale of the disruption was evident on Monday evening when traffic jams outside Paris stretched to a record 1,000 kilometres. Public transport in and around the French capital was also hit, with bus services halted due to icy roads, though most metro and suburban rail lines continued operating.
Freezing Temperatures Grip the Continent
The deep freeze has enveloped much of Europe. Germany recorded temperatures plunging below -10°C in the south and east, with snow covering large parts of the country. The United Kingdom experienced its coldest night of the winter so far, with the mercury dropping to -12.5°C in Marham, eastern England.
The UK's Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for snow and strong winds across Cornwall, Devon, and the Isles of Scilly as Storm Goretti, the first named storm of the year, moves in from the Atlantic. Heavy snow is also forecast for Wales, and a cold health alert for England has been extended until Sunday.
The storm's fury has extended to the Western Balkans, causing road closures, power outages, and flooding from heavy snow and rain. In Sarajevo, a woman died when a tree collapsed under the weight of wet snow. Nordic countries are also struggling, with authorities in eastern Sweden warning of possible power cuts and tram services in Gothenburg suspended. Police in northern Denmark urged people to prepare for heavy snowfall and avoid unnecessary travel.
With weather agencies across Europe warning that conditions may not improve soon, airports, rail operators, and emergency services remain on high alert. Travellers are strongly advised to check for regular updates, avoid non-essential journeys, and prepare for extensive delays as Europe endures one of its most severe winters in recent years.
