Tragic
Six Dead as Historic Snowstorm Brings France to Standstill; Nearly 1,000 Flights Canceled Across Europe
Paris blanketed in rare snow as driver plunges into frozen river; Britain records -12.5°C as travel chaos spreads across continent
Six people died in weather-related traffic accidents across France over the past 24 hours as a severe winter storm dumped heavy snow and ice across the country, leaving Paris covered in a rare white blanket and causing widespread travel chaos throughout Europe.
The French capital saw temperatures plunge below freezing overnight Monday as snow accumulated on streets ill-equipped for winter weather, creating hazardous conditions that trapped motorists in gridlock for hours. At the storm's peak Monday evening, traffic jams stretched for over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) around Paris alone.
Tragic Accidents Mount
Three fatalities were recorded in the Landes department in southern France in two separate incidents. Two people died in a collision between two buses on the A63 highway, while another person was killed in an accident north of the city of Dax.
Two additional deaths occurred in the Île-de-France region surrounding Paris. A 32-year-old commercial vehicle driver was killed Monday morning in Perle-en-Brie when a truck skidded on ice and collided head-on with his vehicle. Two others were seriously injured in that crash.
In a particularly harrowing incident overnight, a rideshare driver lost control of his vehicle on ice, struck a curb, and plunged into the frozen Marne River. A passenger managed to escape the vehicle and was hospitalized suffering from hypothermia. The driver, who could not swim, did not survive.
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot acknowledged Monday morning that the storm was "underestimated by meteorological services." He noted that despite the intensity of precipitation, the night in the Paris region passed relatively smoothly thanks to preventive salt spreading on roads to avoid trapping drivers.
1,000 Flights Canceled at Amsterdam's Schiphol
The disruption spread rapidly across Europe's aviation network. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport became the epicenter of travel chaos, with nearly 1,000 flights canceled over 24 hours as heavy snow and ice shut down runways.
Dutch carrier KLM canceled hundreds of flights, including routes to Israel, while aircraft en route to Schiphol were diverted to alternate airports in Germany. Passengers remained stranded in terminals amid complete uncertainty after airport authorities officially announced "no runways available."
Major delays were reported at airports in Manchester and Birmingham in Britain, while Liverpool Airport temporarily suspended operations to clear ice from runways. Swiss airports in Zurich and Geneva reported hundreds of canceled or delayed flights due to a combination of snow and freezing rain. Berlin, Copenhagen, and Milan also experienced significant disruptions.
Extreme Cold Grips Continent
Beyond aviation, the extreme cold snap severely impacted daily life across Europe. Britain recorded temperatures as low as -12.5°C (9.5°F), forcing hundreds of school closures in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Berlin, thousands of residents were left without power due to freezing-related failures. Scotland saw exceptional snow accumulation exceeding half a meter (20 inches).
Ground transportation took a heavy hit as well. In the Netherlands, all train service in the Amsterdam region was completely suspended Monday morning. In Scotland, ferry and rail services were halted due to dangerous conditions. Authorities across the continent urged the public to avoid non-essential travel, with forecasts predicting freezing conditions will persist in the coming days.
While many Parisians celebrated the relatively rare sight of snow covering their city, others found themselves trapped for hours on roads unprepared for winter conditions.
The national railway company announced delays and speed restrictions on western routes and high-speed rail lines due to snow accumulation on tracks. In many western departments, school bus services were canceled Tuesday morning, though some bus lines in Paris resumed operations.
Weather services are warning residents across affected areas to brace for continued freezing conditions and advise limiting travel to essential trips only as the winter storm system continues to impact the region.