At least five people have died in France as snow, ice and freezing temperatures hit parts of Europe on Tuesday, causing treacherous traffic conditions. Authorities in the Landes region of southwestern France reported three deaths in accidents, while at least two more people were killed in the Ile-de-France region around Paris, where trucks were ordered off the roads after heavy snowfall caused huge traffic jams on Monday.
Paris woke to a blanket of snow covering its rooftops and landmarks, and children enjoyed an unexpected day off as many schools closed. Air travellers faced major disruption, with six airports in northern and western France shut and hundreds of flights cancelled from one of the continent's busiest hubs. In the Netherlands, Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport reported around 400 flights grounded while crews cleared runways and de-iced planes. Rail services were also thrown into turmoil by frozen points and a software glitch, with the national railway company urging commuters to travel only if absolutely necessary.
In Italy, weeks of rain have swollen the Tiber River, and Pope Leo XIV's Epiphany blessing in St Peter's Square was delivered to a reduced crowd under umbrellas. Rome's mayor issued an ordinance restricting public access to parks and areas at risk of falling trees and flooding. Further north, snow dusted Bologna and brought cheer to skiers in the Dolomites, though freezing temperatures are forecast across much of the peninsula.
In Britain, a cold snap sent temperatures down to minus 12.5 degrees overnight, disrupting rail, road and air travel and closing hundreds of schools in northern regions. Horse races and football matches were called off, a power failure caused by ice closed Glasgow's subway, and Liverpool's John Lennon Airport was temporarily shut on Monday. Up to 15 centimetres of snow was forecast for northern Scotland, where some people were already snowed in, prompting a local lawmaker to call for soldiers to clear snow and deliver supplies.
Heavy snow and rain swept through the Balkans, swelling rivers and causing power and water disruptions. A woman died in Sarajevo after a snow-covered tree branch fell on her, while in Serbia, emergency measures were introduced in some western municipalities. Strong winds and stormy seas battered the Adriatic coastline in Croatia and Montenegro, with footage showing the sea sweeping through holiday cottages in Montenegro.
