Western Europe is grappling with severe winter weather as Storm Goretti, the first named storm of the season, unleashes heavy snowfall and icy conditions across the region. On Wednesday, significant travel disruptions have been reported, particularly affecting air travel in France and Belgium, where hundreds of flights have been cancelled, leaving many passengers stranded at airports.
Flight cancellations in Paris and Amsterdam
At Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport, approximately 100 flights were cancelled on Wednesday morning due to the harsh weather, along with an additional 40 cancellations at Orly airport, as reported by France’s transport minister. The minister noted that the severe weather had been anticipated, urging hope for a return to normalcy by the afternoon.
Public bus services in Paris and surrounding areas were also halted because of icy conditions. Despite this, transport officials confirmed that most metro and suburban rail lines were still operational. Meteo France has placed 38 out of 96 mainland departments on alert for heavy snowfall and black ice, with accumulations between three to seven centimeters already recorded. Authorities in the Paris region have advised residents to limit travel and work from home if possible.
Severe impact on Eurostar and UK travel
Meanwhile, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest, reported over 700 flight cancellations on Wednesday due to snow and strong winds. Travelers at the airport faced prolonged waits, with more than 1,000 individuals having to spend the night there; the airport had to provide camp beds and breakfast for those stranded.
In Belgium, Brussels Airport experienced at least 40 flight cancellations, with officials warning of ongoing delays throughout the day attributed to the need for de-icing aircraft and clearing runways. The airport’s service team is prepared to mitigate disruptions as much as possible.
For those attempting to travel by train, Eurostar announced significant delays and potential last-minute cancellations for its services between London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels, citing the severe snow conditions. Passengers on routes between London and Paris were informed of delays expected to last until mid-afternoon, while limited services were also reported between London and Brussels and Amsterdam.
In the UK, a yellow weather warning for strong winds has been issued for Cornwall, Devon, and the Isles of Scilly as Storm Goretti continues to impact the southwest. A separate yellow snow warning is in effect for Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire until midday on Friday, with heavy snow anticipated in Wales by the week’s end. The Met Office has cautioned that the severe conditions could result in travel delays.
The UK Health Security Agency has extended amber cold health alerts across England through Sunday as temperatures plummet.
Northern European countries have also faced chaos due to snow, with eastern Sweden’s officials warning of likely power outages from heavy snowfall. In Gothenburg, trams have been suspended, and the police have advised residents to stay off the roads if possible. In Denmark, although conditions in North Jutland are currently stable, authorities are urging citizens to prepare for heavy snowfall.
Tragically, the harsh weather has resulted in fatalities. Since the temperature dropped on Monday, five deaths have been recorded in France linked to the weather, along with one in Bosnia due to flooding and power outages. In southwestern France, three individuals died in accidents related to icy roads, and a taxi driver succumbed after his vehicle plunged into the Marne river. In Sarajevo, a woman was killed when a tree collapsed under the weight of snow.