Snow, ice disrupt journey throughout western Europe – DW – 01/07/2026

A winter storm affecting giant components of western Europe was inflicting widespread journey chaos for a 3rd day on Wednesday.

At least six individuals have died in weather-related incidents this week. Five of these deaths had been in France, with the sixth coming in Bosnia, the place snow and rain have triggered floods and energy outages.

How is the storm affecting air journey in northwestern Europe?

At least 700 flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport had been canceled on Wednesday due to the snow and wind, after days of journey disruptions as a result of winter storm.

Over 1,000 passengers had been stranded at Schiphol in a single day. Airport authorities mentioned that they had arrange camp beds for vacationers who had been compelled to sleep on the airport, which is likely one of the busiest in Europe.

In Paris, heavy snowfall compelled round 140 flights to be canceled at Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports within the French capital.

Around 40 flights had been additionally canceled within the Belgian capital.

Bus, rail, faculty companies frozen

Public buses had been additionally suspended in Paris, as retailers started the primary day of New Year’s gross sales.

School buses and vans have additionally been banned from roads throughout northern and western France, amid forecasts of serious snowfall and black ice.

Rail companies had been dealing with delays and disruptions, the nation’s rail operator mentioned.

“Snow on the tracks is forcing us to limit train speed and cancel trains or adjust traffic,” SNCF mentioned. Eurostar trains between Paris, London and Brussels had been additionally delayed.

In Scotland, a whole lot of faculties had been closed for a 3rd day amid freezing temperatures and snow. Authorities in England, in the meantime, had been bracing for a snowstorm later this week.

Parisians benefit from snow day

While the climate was severely disrupting journey in Paris, vacationers and locals took the chance to benefit from the snow.

People had been seen snowboarding or sledding down Montmartre’s steep hills, alongside the Champs de Mars beneath the Eiffel Tower, close to the Louvre museum and alongside the banks of the River Seine.

Teona, a vacationer from the United Kingdom visiting Paris instructed DW: “I think it’s really fun visiting here when it’s snowy. I did have my cautions about it but I think I prefer it with the snow.”

Richard, a Paris resident whom we met strolling his canine, mentioned: “I woke up this morning, everything was white. I was looking out the window  — it was so magical and I took the occasion to go out with my dog to play a bit in the snow. It’s the second time he sees the snow. It’s wonderful!”

Not everybody was as happy with the blanket of snow protecting the capital, nonetheless. Michael, a neighborhood resident, mentioned: “I’m annoyed! Because it’s slippery, because you have to watch your step, because it ruins your shoes! It’s no good at all!”

DW’s Rosie Birchard contributed to this report.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery