Snow disrupts travel across Europe as flights cancel and trains halt
A European winter storm causes travel disruption as airports cancel hundreds of flights, trains halt, and roads ice over; authorities urge caution and alternative plans.
Overview
Airports in Paris, Amsterdam, and other European hubs suspended or canceled flights as snow and freezing rain closed runways and disrupted schedules.
Schiphol and major airports dispatched deicing teams and offered accommodations as hundreds waited, with Dutch rail and road networks hampered by fresh snowfall, squalls, and slick surfaces.
In Paris and wider France, trains faced track conditions, bus traffic was suspended, and authorities advised working from home amid heavy snow across 38 departments.
Power outages affected Berlin households for four days after a suspected attack on high-voltage lines, prompting rapid restoration efforts and investigations.
European travelers faced significant disruptions as 700-plus flights were canceled at Schiphol and other hubs, with thousands stranded or temporarily housed as winter weather persisted.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources... The report presents a broad, factual account of travel disruptions across Europe, with multiple authorities quoted and little editorial flourish. By detailing both delays and relief (e.g., power restoration in Berlin) and avoiding value-laden judgments, the coverage emphasizes situational updates and shared inconvenience, not a political narrative.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Storm Goretti, the first named storm of 2026, combined with an Arctic cold blast from Polar Vortex disruption and Stratospheric Warming, is bringing heavy snowfall, ice, and extreme cold to Western and Northern Europe.[2]
Schiphol Airport canceled over 700 flights, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly canceled around 140 flights, Eurostar trains and Dutch rail halted, with road icing and bus suspensions in France across 38 departments.
At least six deaths: five in France from black ice accidents and a taxi crash, and one in Bosnia from a snow-laden tree collapse.
Continued heavy snow, blizzards, and frigid cold through mid-to-late January, with deep snow in the Balkans, Central Europe, and potential impacts to the UK, Nordic countries, and even North Africa.
Power outages in Berlin for four days due to a suspected attack, potential cuts in Sweden; shipping delays at Rotterdam and Hamburg terminals from snow, ice, and rail disruptions.
History
This story does not have any previous versions.