Snowfall, freezing temperatures, and icy roads created dangerous conditions in France, where at least five people were reported killed in weather-related incidents. Authorities in the Landes region in southwestern France said three people died in traffic accidents.
Around Paris, officials reported at least two additional deaths in the Île-de-France region, after snowfall contributed to massive traffic jams on Monday. Authorities also ordered trucks off the roads as conditions worsened.
Paris woke on Tuesday under a layer of snow across rooftops and landmarks. Some children enjoyed an unexpected break where schools could not operate, while air travelers faced widespread disruption. Heavy snowfall led to the closure of six airports in France’s north and west, with hundreds of flights canceled.
Schiphol cancellations and rail chaos in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, snowfall snarled transport across the country, with Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport reporting that about 400 flights were grounded as crews worked to clear runways and de-ice aircraft. Hundreds of flights had already been canceled in Amsterdam on Monday, and more snow was forecast through the rest of the week.
Reaching the airport was also difficult. Frozen rail equipment and an early-morning software problem threw the national rail system into disorder. Limited service resumed later in the morning, but routes around Amsterdam remained largely shut due to icy conditions. The national rail operator urged people to travel only if it was necessary.
Road commuters faced slow, slippery journeys on highways as snow and ice built up. In the eastern city of Arnhem, 18-year-old student Thijs Rademakers chose to cycle instead of waiting for disrupted public transport.
“It was tough, very slippery,” he said. “Many people fall. Luckily, I didn’t.”
Flood worries in Rome as snow reaches northern Italy
In Italy, weeks of rain pushed the Tiber River over its banks again in Rome, dampening Pope Leo XIV’s Christmas-season events. St. Peter’s Square was only partly filled as a few thousand people stood under umbrellas to hear his Epiphany blessing from the basilica’s loggia.
Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, issued an ordinance for Tuesday that limited access to parks and other areas considered at risk from falling trees and flooding.
Farther north, snow dusted Bologna and boosted conditions for skiers in the Dolomites, even as freezing temperatures were expected to persist across much of northern and central Italy in the coming days.
Bitter cold across Britain forces closures
Northern parts of Britain saw temperatures drop to minus 12.5 degrees Celsius (9.5 Fahrenheit) overnight, disrupting road, rail, and air travel and closing hundreds of schools.
Sports were also affected, with horse races and soccer matches called off because of frost and snowfall. Ice-related issues caused a power failure that shut Glasgow’s subway, and Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport was temporarily closed on Monday.
In northern Scotland, up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) of snow was forecast for Tuesday, adding to earlier accumulations that left some communities effectively cut off. Lawmaker Andrew Bowie described the situation as “critical” and called for soldiers to help clear roads and deliver food and medical supplies to stranded residents.
Balkans battered by snow, rain, and stormy seas
Across the Balkans, heavy snow and rain swelled rivers, disrupted traffic, and caused interruptions to power and water supplies. In Sarajevo, Bosnia, a woman died Monday after a snow-laden tree branch fell on her, authorities said.
Some municipalities in western Serbia introduced emergency measures due to the weather, while officials warned drivers to use extreme caution as many traveled toward ski areas ahead of Orthodox Christmas on Wednesday and the coming weekend. Black ice forced cars to pull over on a road leading to Mount Bjelasnica above Sarajevo on Tuesday morning.
Along the Adriatic coast, strong winds and rough seas lashed parts of Croatia and Montenegro. Video from southern Montenegro showed waves pushing through holiday cottages at Ada Bojana during the storm.
Sources:
AP News / Snow and ice wreak havoc across Europe, causing deadly accidents and travel chaos
