Five dead, hundreds of flights cancelled as snow paralyses Europe

UPDATED: Jan 7, 2026 04:10 IST

Snow, ice and plunging temperatures swept across parts of Europe on Tuesday, triggering deadly road conditions, grounding hundreds of flights and disrupting daily life from France to the Balkans, according to the Associated Press.

In France, authorities said at least five people were killed in weather-related accidents. Three deaths were reported in the Landes region of southwestern France, while at least two more occurred in the Ile-de-France region around Paris. Heavy snowfall there forced officials to ban trucks from roads, after massive traffic jams formed late Monday.

Paris woke up to snow-covered rooftops and landmarks, a rare sight that delighted children whose schools were forced to close. For air travellers, however, the conditions were far less welcome. Heavy snowfall led to the closure of six airports across northern and western France, disrupting hundreds of flights.

DUTCH WEATHER WOES

Snowfall across the Netherlands brought one of Europe’s busiest airports to a standstill. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport said around 600 flights were grounded as crews worked through the day to clear runways and de-ice aircraft. More snow was forecast through the rest of the week.

Dutch airline KLM warned stranded passengers to watch out for scammers posing as customer service agents. The airline said fake phone numbers were circulating online and urged travellers to be alert to these phishing attempts and not to share personal or payment information.

KLM also said it was running low on glycol, the fluid mixed with hot water to de-ice planes, noting that airports across Europe were facing similar shortages after days of freezing temperatures.

Getting to and from Schiphol proved just as difficult. Frozen rail points and an early-morning software glitch threw the Dutch rail network into chaos. Limited services resumed later, but routes around Amsterdam remained largely shut due to icy tracks. rail operator NS advised people to only travel if it’s absolutely necessary.

ROME SOAKED, CROWDS THIN

In Italy, weeks of rain pushed the Tiber River over its banks again, dampening Pope Leo XIV’s Epiphany celebrations. Only a few thousand people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, sheltering under umbrellas as the pope delivered his blessing from the basilica’s loggia, the Associated Press reported.

Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri issued an ordinance limiting access to parks and flood-prone areas due to the risk of falling trees and rising waters. Farther north, snow dusted Bologna and brought relief to ski resorts in the Dolomites, though freezing temperatures are expected to persist across much of the country.

Britain was gripped by a cold snap, with temperatures dropping to minus 12.5 degrees Celsius overnight in northern areas. Snow disrupted rail, road and air travel, forced hundreds of schools to close and led to the cancellation of horse races and football matches. In Glasgow, an ice-related power failure shut down the subway system.

In Scotland, up to 15 centimetres of snow was forecast in the north. Lawmaker Andrew Bowie described the situation as critical and called for military assistance to help clear roads and deliver supplies.

Meanwhile, heavy snow and rain swept across the Balkans, swelling rivers and cutting power and water supplies. In Sarajevo, a woman died after a snow-laden tree branch fell on her. Serbian authorities introduced emergency measures in some western areas and warned drivers heading toward ski resorts of black ice.

Along the Adriatic coast, strong winds and rough seas battered parts of Croatia and Montenegro, with footage showing waves flooding holiday cottages in southern Montenegro.

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With inputs from Associated Press