A powerful winter storm blanketed large swaths of Europe with snow and ice, snarling air, rail and road travel from Amsterdam to Paris and triggering deadly accidents, mass flight cancellations and widespread infrastructure disruptions as authorities urged residents to stay home and brace for further deterioration.
Heavy snowfall brought aviation to a near standstill in the Dutch and French capitals on Monday, with hundreds of flights scrapped, train networks crippled and highways clogged for hundreds of kilometers. The disruptions rippled outward across the continent, affecting Britain, Italy and the Balkans as a prolonged cold snap tightened its grip.
At Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport — one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs — operations were severely curtailed as snow accumulation and icy conditions forced the cancellation of roughly 700 flights. Airport officials halted incoming air traffic for several hours while crews worked to clear runways and de-ice aircraft, diverting inbound planes to alternative airports across the region, Reuters said.
Inside the terminal, stranded passengers crowded departure halls as delays mounted and information screens flickered with cancellations. One traveler told Dutch outlet AD that uncertainty was compounding the frustration, with little clarity on when normal operations might resume.
The transport chaos extended well beyond the airport. Rail travel around Amsterdam collapsed after frozen track switches and a software malfunction crippled the Netherlands’ rail network during the morning rush. The national rail operator NS said no trains were running in the Amsterdam region for much of the day, while services elsewhere were sharply reduced. The company announced it would shift to a winter timetable on Tuesday, cutting the number of trains to improve reliability, Reuters reported.
International connections were also disrupted. Eurostar said services scheduled to travel into the Netherlands were terminated in Brussels, while all departures from Dutch stations were canceled, stranding international travelers mid-journey.
French authorities faced similar challenges as snowfall intensified around Paris. The country’s civil aviation authority instructed airlines to cut flights by 15% at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly airports through the evening, amounting to roughly 70 canceled departures and arrivals, figures confirmed by airport operator Groupe ADP.
Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot urged travelers to verify flight status before leaving home and encouraged the use of public transportation where possible — advice that proved difficult to follow as snow forced the suspension of some bus services across the capital.
On the ground, the impact was dramatic. Traffic authorities in the Paris region recorded more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of traffic jams as snow and ice turned major arteries into bottlenecks. Officials temporarily barred trucks from roads around Île-de-France to reduce accident risks.
The Associated Press said the storm’s effects turned deadly in parts of France. Authorities in the southwestern Les Landes region confirmed three fatalities linked to traffic accidents, while at least two more people were killed in crashes around Paris. Emergency services responded to dozens of collisions as freezing temperatures made roads treacherous.
By Tuesday morning, Paris awoke under a thick blanket of snow, transforming iconic rooftops and landmarks into wintry scenes. Schools unable to operate safely closed for the day, giving children an unexpected holiday. For air travelers, however, the conditions brought little cheer, as six airports in northern and western France were shuttered entirely due to heavy snowfall, AP said.
Across the border in the Netherlands, snow continued to fall, complicating recovery efforts. Schiphol Airport said approximately 400 additional flights were grounded as crews worked around the clock to clear runways and aircraft. Meteorologists warned that further snowfall was expected later in the week, raising concerns about prolonged disruption.
Commuters who abandoned rail travel and took to the roads encountered long, slow journeys as ice-coated highways snarled traffic nationwide. Authorities urged people to travel only if absolutely necessary, warning that conditions could worsen overnight.
The storm system did not stop at France and the Netherlands. In Italy, persistent rain caused the Tiber River to swell once again, dampening public gatherings in Rome. The Associated Press said Pope Leo XIV’s Epiphany blessing drew smaller crowds than usual as St. Peter’s Square was only partially filled with worshippers sheltering under umbrellas.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri issued an ordinance restricting access to parks and flood-prone areas, citing risks from falling trees and rising waters. Farther north, snow dusted Bologna, while ski resorts in the Dolomites welcomed fresh powder even as freezing temperatures threatened transport links across central and northern Italy.
Britain was gripped by one of its coldest nights of the winter, with temperatures plunging to minus 12.5 degrees Celsius (9.5 Fahrenheit). Snow and ice disrupted rail, road and air travel, closing hundreds of schools across northern England and Scotland. Sporting events were postponed, Glasgow’s subway shut down due to an ice-related power failure, and Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport suspended operations temporarily.
In northern Scotland, forecasters warned of up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) of additional snowfall. Lawmaker Andrew Bowie described the situation as “critical,” calling for military assistance to help clear snow and deliver food and medical supplies to communities already cut off by earlier storms.
The Balkans also endured severe weather, with heavy snow and rain swelling rivers and knocking out power and water supplies in several areas. In Bosnia’s capital, Sarajevo, a woman was killed when a snow-laden tree branch collapsed, authorities said. Neighboring Serbia imposed emergency measures in parts of the west, urging caution as travelers headed toward ski resorts ahead of Orthodox Christmas celebrations.
Black ice forced vehicles to pull over on mountain roads near Sarajevo, while strong winds and stormy seas battered the Adriatic coast. Video footage from southern Montenegro showed waves surging into seaside cottages at Ada Bojana, underscoring the storm’s reach beyond inland transport networks.
Meteorologists warned that the prolonged cold spell could persist, keeping much of Europe in the grip of hazardous conditions. Emergency officials across the continent emphasized the need for vigilance, particularly as climate experts note that increasingly volatile winter weather is straining infrastructure designed for more moderate conditions.
The sweeping disruptions highlighted Europe’s vulnerability to extreme winter storms, with interconnected transport systems amplifying the impact when key hubs such as Amsterdam and Paris falter. As cleanup crews raced to restore services, authorities cautioned that recovery would be uneven — and that patience would be required as winter tightened its hold.
AP/Reuters
