THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Snow, ice and freezing temperatures hit parts of Europe Tuesday, causing treacherous traffic conditions…
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Snow, ice and freezing temperatures hit parts of Europe on Tuesday, causing treacherous traffic conditions that killed at least five people in France and cancellation of hundreds of flights from one of the continent’s busiest airports.
Authorities in the Landes region of southwestern France reported three deaths in accidents, and at least two more people are said to have died in the Île-de-France region around Paris, where authorities ordered trucks off the roads as snowfall caused huge traffic jams on Monday.
Paris woke up Tuesday to a blanket of snow on its famous rooftops and sites, and children whose schools were unable to hold classes welcomed an unexpected day off. Air travelers were less happy as heavy snow forced the closure of six airports in the north and west of France.
Dutch weather conditions
As snow fell across the Netherlands, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport reported that some 400 flights had been grounded while crews worked to clear runways and de-ice planes waiting to take off. Hundreds of flights were also canceled in Amsterdam on Monday and more snow was predicted for the rest of the week.
Just getting to and from the airport outside the Dutch capital was a struggle with frozen points and an early morning software glitch that threw the Dutch rail system into turmoil.
Limited rail traffic resumed later in the morning, but the routes around Amsterdam remained largely closed due to the icy conditions, NS reported on its website. It urged commuters to ‘only travel if absolutely necessary’.
Commuters forced to drive to work also faced time-consuming trips as the combination of snow and ice disrupted traffic on some highways.
Thijs Rademakers, an 18-year-old student, decided to cycle rather than wait for public transport.
“It was tough, very slippery,” he said in the eastern city of Arnhem. “A lot of people fall. Luckily I didn’t.”
The wet weather in Rome limits numbers during the papal Epiphany blessing
In Rome, weeks of rain that swelled the Tiber River over its banks have once again dampened Pope Leo XIV’s Christmas celebrations. St. Peter’s Square was only partially full on Tuesday, as a few thousand people crowded under colorful umbrellas to hear Leo deliver his Epiphany blessing from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Rome has been drenched in persistent rain since before Christmas, and Mayor Roberto Gualtieri issued an ordinance on Tuesday restricting public access to parks and other areas at risk of falling trees and flooding.
Further north, snow covered Bologna and gave skiers in the Dolomites reason to cheer, although freezing temperatures are forecast for much of the north and central part of the peninsula in the coming days.
Temperatures are falling in Britain
A cold snap caused temperatures in northern parts of Britain to drop to minus 12.5 degrees Celsius (9.5 Fahrenheit) overnight, while snow disrupted rail, road and air travel and closed hundreds of schools.
Horse racing and football matches were canceled due to snow and frost, a power outage caused by ice closed the Glasgow Metro and Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport was closed for a time on Monday.
Up to 15 centimeters of snow was forecast for northern Scotland on Tuesday, where some people have already been snowed in from previous falls. North-east Scotland lawmaker Andrew Bowie said the situation was “critical” and called for soldiers to be sent to clear snow and deliver food and medical supplies to stranded people.
Icy Balkans
Both heavy snow and heavy rain swept through the Balkan countries, causing swollen rivers and causing traffic problems and disruptions to power and water supplies. A woman died Monday in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo after a snow-covered tree branch fell on her head. In neighboring Serbia, some western municipalities have introduced emergency measures due to the bad weather.
Authorities in Serbia warned motorists to be very careful as many headed to ski resorts or elsewhere for an Orthodox Christmas on Wednesday and over the coming weekend. Black ice brought cars to a standstill and forced motorists to park on the side of the road on their way to Mount Bjelasnica above Sarajevo on Tuesday morning.
Heavy winds and stormy seas battered the Adriatic coast in Croatia and Montenegro. Video footage showed the sea rushing through holiday homes in Ada Bojana in southern Montenegro during a storm.
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Associated Press writers from across Europe contributed to this report.
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