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Snow, ice and high winds disrupted transportation across large parts of Europe for a third consecutive day on Wednesday, grounding hundreds of flights, stranding travelers and leaving thousands without power as the continent endured its harshest cold snap of the winter so far.
Airports in Paris and Amsterdam were among the worst affected. Dutch authorities said more than 1,000 passengers were forced to spend the night at Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs.
At least seven people have died in weather-related incidents since the freeze began on Monday.
Hungary’s Interior Ministry said a woman was killed after her car skidded on ice and collided with another vehicle. Five people have died in France and one in Bosnia in accidents linked to the severe weather.
Temperatures plunged well below freezing across central and eastern Europe, with forecasters warning of continued risks from black ice and heavy snowfall.
More than 100 flights were canceled at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on Wednesday, while about 40 additional cancellations were reported at Orly Airport.
Nearly half of mainland France remained under weather alerts for snow and ice, and authorities imposed temporary bans on heavy trucks in some regions.
“It’s better to be here than stuck on the road,” truck driver Carle Bruno said while waiting at a roadside service station near the northern port city of Le Havre.
In the Netherlands, Schiphol Airport reported more than 700 flight cancellations so far, warning that the number could rise.
Brussels Airport confirmed 40 cancellations, while Budapest Airport said at least 20 flights were canceled overnight.
Hungarian meteorologists described the snowfall in Budapest as the heaviest in 15 years. Temperatures were expected to fall as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius in parts of the country, with even colder readings reported in the Austrian Alps.
Britain also saw plunging temperatures, with Scottish authorities warning that some rural communities could be cut off by snow. Hundreds of schools across Scotland remained closed for a third day.
Eurostar services linking London with continental Europe were again disrupted, with passengers facing delays and cancellations.
In the Balkans, heavy snow and flooding caused further damage.
Thousands remained without electricity in Serbia after snowstorms downed power lines.
In Albania, torrential rain flooded hundreds of homes in the port city of Durres on Tuesday, forcing around 200 residents to flee, though officials said conditions began easing Wednesday.
While skiers and snowboarders took advantage of the snow-covered slopes in Paris’ Montmartre district, the cold posed serious risks for the city’s homeless population.
Guinean teenager Boubacar Camara, who sleeps in a tent on the outskirts of Paris, said he had little choice but to endure the conditions.
“You just have to stay strong, make sure you don’t die,” the 19-year-old told AFP. “I’m not used to this at all.”
Nordic countries were also affected, with officials in eastern Sweden warning that heavy snowfall could trigger power outages. Tram services were suspended in Gothenburg, and authorities urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay indoors where possible.
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