Europe continues to reel under high winds and snowfall, whereas worsening travel disruption is still in place. A crippling cold wave is set to intensify across the continent with more snow, sub-zero temperatures, and powerful winter storms, as per Reuters. Authorities have warned that more flights will be cancelled, trains halted, and roads blocked after days of chaos that left thousands stranded in airports and along rail lines.Air travel has been hit the hardest. In the Netherlands, as another blizzard was forecast to sweep through overnight, authorities advised residents to stay home if possible. Dutch airline KLM cancelled 600 flights on Wednesday, in addition to 400 the day before, to avoid last-minute disruptions at Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest hubs.
KLM asked passengers with cancelled flights to stay away from the airport to reduce congestion. “We haven’t seen weather this extreme for years,” a company spokesman said, adding that the carrier was overwhelmed with inquiries despite continuous efforts to rebook travellers.More than 1,000 passengers spent the night at Schiphol, where camp beds and breakfasts were provided for stranded travellers. Officials warned that cancellations could increase as snow and high winds continued.In France, disruption was equally severe. By Wednesday morning, about 100 flights had been cancelled at Charles de Gaulle and another 40 at Orly due to snow and freezing conditions.Read more: Breaking US laws could cost you your Student Visa, US Embassy warnsIssue with rail and road networksRail services have also been crippled by the cold snap. All domestic train operations in the Netherlands were suspended early Tuesday after an IT failure compounded the weather-related chaos, according to Reuters. Though some service resumed later, issues lingered around Amsterdam, where Eurostar trains to Paris were cancelled or delayed.Roads across France gradually improved, but not without tragedy. At least five people were killed in snow-related accidents, and traffic jams outside Paris stretched to a record 1,000 kilometres on Monday evening.Public transport in and around Paris also suffered. Bus services were halted due to icy roads, though most metro and suburban rail lines continued running.Freezing temperatures across EuropeGermany saw temperatures fall below -10°C in the south and east, with snow blanketing much of the country. In the UK, the Met Office recorded the coldest night of the winter so far as temperatures dipped to -12.5°C in Marham, eastern England.Yellow weather warnings for snow and strong winds are in place across large parts of England, including Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly, as Storm Goretti, the first named storm of the year, moves in from the Atlantic. Heavy snow is also forecast for Wales, and a cold health alert for England has been extended until Sunday.Read more: How to apply for a passport in India (2025–26): Traveller tips on how to get your passport within a weekBalkans and Nordics hit hardThe storm’s impact has stretched to the Western Balkans, where heavy snow and rain have caused road closures, power outages, and flooding. In Sarajevo, a woman died when a tree fell under the weight of wet snow.The Nordic countries are also struggling. In eastern Sweden, authorities warned of possible power cuts, while tram services in Gothenburg were suspended. In northern Denmark, police urged people to prepare for heavy snowfall and avoid unnecessary travel.More disruption aheadWeather agencies across Europe warned that conditions may not improve soon. With more snow on the way, airports, rail operators, and emergency services remain on high alert. Travellers are being advised to check updates regularly, avoid non-essential journeys, and expect delays as Europe faces one of its most severe winters in years.
