PARIS — January 8, 2026
Severe winter weather swept across Europe this week, triggering widespread travel disruptions as heavy snow and ice grounded flights, snarled highways, and forced rail operators to suspend or limit services in multiple countries.
At Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, more than 1,000 passengers were stranded overnight on January 7 after at least 800 flights were canceled. Airport authorities deployed field beds and distributed meals while crews worked through the night to clear runways and deice aircraft amid persistent snowfall.
France was among the hardest-hit countries, with Paris and surrounding regions blanketed in snow. Major landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, were covered in white as transport disruptions intensified. More than 100 flights were canceled at Charles de Gaulle Airport, while around 40 were scrapped at Orly.
French authorities urged residents to work remotely where possible and imposed restrictions on road travel, banning trucks and school buses from major routes. Bus services in Paris were suspended, while the national rail operator SNCF reduced train speeds and canceled several services due to safety concerns. Eurostar trains connecting Paris with London and Brussels experienced significant delays.
The Netherlands reported more than 700 kilometers of traffic jams nationwide, with icy roads contributing to accidents and delays. Rail operator NS advised passengers to postpone non-essential travel as train services faced interruptions.
In Scandinavia, Sweden’s city of Göteborg suspended tram operations after heavy snow rendered tracks unusable. Finland’s capital, Helsinki, canceled multiple bus routes following cold-weather-related technical malfunctions.
Elsewhere, Hungarian authorities confirmed that ice had formed on Lake Balaton, prompting safety warnings. In Germany, Berlin restored electricity after a four-day outage caused by damage to high-voltage power lines, which authorities said was linked to a suspected far-left attack.
France’s Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot and national weather agency Météo-France issued alerts for northern and western regions, warning that hazardous conditions could persist as temperatures remain low across much of the continent.
