PARIS, France – A severe winter freeze has brought widespread transport disruption across Europe for a third consecutive day, with hundreds of flights cancelled and passengers stranded at major airports.
The death toll from weather-related accidents has risen to seven, with Hungary’s interior ministry confirming on Wednesday that a woman died after her car skidded on ice and crashed into another vehicle. This adds to five fatalities in France and one in Bosnia since the cold snap began on Monday.
Airports cancel hundreds of flights
Paris and Amsterdam airports bore the brunt of the disruptions, with Dutch authorities reporting that more than 1 000 travellers were forced to spend the night at Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs.
More than 100 flights were cancelled at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport on Wednesday, with a further 40 cancellations at Orly airport. Schiphol Airport said over 700 flights had been cancelled so far, warning that numbers were likely to increase.
Brussels Airport confirmed 40 cancellations, whilst Budapest Airport reported 20 overnight cancellations. Hungarian meteorologist Andras Vaszko said it was the heaviest snowfall in the capital for 15 years.
Temperatures plummet across region
Almost half of mainland France remained on alert for heavy snow and black ice, with lorries banned from roads in some areas. Forecasters warned that temperatures could drop to -20°C in parts of Hungary, whilst neighbouring Austria recorded even lower temperatures of -24°C in the Alps overnight.
“It’s better to be here than stuck on the road,” said lorry driver Carle Bruno, who managed to reach a roadside service station in Le Havre whilst waiting for permission to continue his journey.
Britain and Nordic countries affected
Hundreds of schools remained closed for a third day across Scotland, with English authorities warning of approaching snowstorms. British officials cautioned that some rural Scottish communities could be “cut off” by snow.
The Eurostar rail service connecting London with continental European cities faced further disruptions on Wednesday, with passengers experiencing cancellations and delays.
Nordic countries also reported snow-related chaos, with eastern Sweden warning of likely power cuts due to heavy snowfall. Trams were suspended in Gothenburg, with regional authorities advising residents to stay at home if possible.
Impact on vulnerable populations
The cold snap has particularly affected Europe’s homeless population. Guinean teenager Boubacar Camara, sleeping in a tent on Paris’s outskirts, told AFP: “You just have to stay strong, make sure you don’t die, you know. We can’t do anything about the cold – I’m not used to this at all.”
The Balkans region has experienced heavy snow and flooding, with thousands still without power in Serbia after Tuesday’s snowstorm damaged power lines. Albania’s port city of Durres was hit by torrential rain that flooded hundreds of homes and forced around 200 people to evacuate, though officials said conditions were improving on Wednesday.
Despite the chaos, some Parisians found ways to enjoy the unusual weather, with skiers and snowboarders taking advantage of the steep hills in the Montmartre district.
