Snow, ice and high winds plunged large swathes of Europe into transport chaos for a third straight day on Wednesday, January 7, as hundreds of flights were canceled and thousands of passengers left stranded by one of the winter’s most severe cold snaps.
Airports in Paris and Amsterdam were among the worst affected. At France’s Charles de Gaulle airport, around 100 flights were canceled due to snowfall and freezing conditions, while a further 40 departures and arrivals were scrapped at Orly airport, according to France’s transport minister.
In the Netherlands, authorities said more than 1,000 travelers were forced to spend the night at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport after severe weather disrupted schedules at one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs.
Across the continent, icy roads and heavy snowfall disrupted not only air travel but also road and rail transport. In and around Paris, all public bus services were suspended as authorities warned of treacherous driving conditions caused by black ice.
While most metro and suburban rail services continued to operate, officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and work from home where possible.
The human toll of the extreme weather continued to rise. Seven people have died in weather-related accidents since the cold snap began earlier in the week. Hungary’s interior ministry reported that a woman was killed after her car skidded on an icy road and collided with another vehicle.
Authorities said five people have died in France and one in Bosnia under similar conditions since freezing temperatures descended on Monday.
France’s national weather service, Météo France, placed nearly half of the country’s mainland departments on alert for heavy snow and black ice. Of the 96 mainland departments, 38 were under warnings on Wednesday, with snowfall accumulations ranging between three and seven centimeters.
The agency described the cold spell as being of “rare intensity for the season,” underscoring the unusual severity of the conditions.
To reduce risks on major highways, trucks were banned from roads in several affected areas, forcing drivers to pull over and wait for clearance before continuing their journeys. Similar precautions were taken in neighboring countries as authorities sought to limit accidents amid freezing rain and icy surfaces.
Rail travel also faced continued disruption. The Eurostar service linking London with major European cities experienced further delays and cancellations, leaving international travelers scrambling for alternatives.
Despite the hazardous conditions, some residents found moments of relief. In Paris, snowfall transformed the steep streets of Montmartre into makeshift slopes, where skiers and snowboarders were seen enjoying the rare urban winter scene.
Meteorologists warned that cold conditions were expected to persist, urging travelers to monitor updates and prepare for further disruption. As Europe braces for more snow and ice, authorities continue to stress caution, highlighting the dangers posed by extreme winter weather across the region.