Jan 5, 2026, 1:49 p.mJanuary 5, 2026, 3:05 p.m
Heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures have caused chaotic conditions in many European countries. An overview:
Czech Republic
A low of minus 30.6 degrees Celsius was measured in the Czech municipality of Kvila in the Bohemian Forest National Park near the border with Germany. According to the state weather service, temperatures across the country are not expected to rise above freezing in the next few days. A number of accidents occurred on the slippery roads, especially in the low mountain ranges.
It is freezing cold in the Czech Republic.Image: keystone
Netherlands
There are currently numerous traffic disruptions in the Netherlands. Around 450 flights were canceled at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam this morning. According to the airport, only very few flights will be able to take off until 1 p.m.
Snow in the Dutch city of Amsterdam.Image: keystone
Train traffic around the Dutch capital and Utrecht also collapsed for a time. There were hundreds of kilometers of traffic jams on the highways.
Poland
Public transport also has problems in Poland. The Polish railway PKP reported delays and cancellations that sometimes lasted hours due to heavy snowfall. The Odra (Oder) long-distance train between Krakow and Berlin reached the German border more than two and a half hours later than planned.
A snow-covered car in northeastern Poland.Image: keystone
Sweden
Swedish police called on people to leave their cars behind. “Getting sushi is not a necessity!” it was said. Numerous flights were also canceled or delayed at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Train traffic in several regions was temporarily stopped and buses and trucks skidded off the icy roads.
Snow flurries in the Swedish city of Are.Image: keystone
Great Britain
In Scotland, at least many children were able to enjoy the snow, and hundreds of schools were closed in the morning. A weather warning has been in effect for several days in many parts of Great Britain due to heavy snowfall.
It’s cold in Great Britain too.Image: keystone
At the weekend, the coldest nighttime temperature of the winter in England and Wales was recorded in the English town of Shap at minus 10.9 degrees Celsius.
Slovakia
In Slovakia, meteorologists reported the coldest morning so far on Monday, with local temperatures down to minus 20 degrees Celsius.
Romania
In Romania, the Carpathian regions in Transylvania were particularly affected: several villages were isolated due to snow-covered access roads. At least 42,000 households were without power because transformers were damaged by heavy snowfall.
Bosnia
Up to 40 centimeters of snow fell in Sarajevo. At the airport in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, half of the flights were canceled on Sunday.
Austria
In Austria, state meteorologists issued a cold warning for the west of the country. On Tuesday temperatures could fall to minus 17 degrees. However, no major snowfalls are expected there
Low temperatures are also expected in Austria.Image: www.imago-images.de
Spain
In Spain, storm “Francis” is bringing rain, cold, heavy seas and, at higher altitudes, snow. The weather agency Aemet issued warnings for ten regions of the country for Monday. The third highest warning level, yellow, applies to the Balearic Islands with the holiday island of Mallorca and most other areas. In parts of Cantabria in the north, of Castile and León in the northwest and of Catalonia in the east of the country, there is now an orange warning level, which means considerable danger.
Storm “Francis” is causing considerable danger in Spain.Image: keystone
The heaviest snowfall in the first half of the day is concentrated in the less populated interior, the eastern half of the country and the Cantabrian Mountains, as the TV channel RTVE reported. The weather caused massive restrictions on three motorways and several country roads. No other notable incidents have been reported for the time being. (dab/sda/dpa)
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