Extreme weather conditions struck several European countries on Wednesday, bringing heavy snowfall and freezing rain that disrupted air and road traffic.
Workers at Brussels Airport in Zaventem were forced to clear the runways of snow, causing temporary delays and cancellations of multiple flights including those to Frankfurt and Munich.
Heavy snow in Brussels led to severe traffic congestion on the Brussels Ring, particularly in the Zaventem area towards Grand-Bigard.
In Belgium, the extreme weather conditions also disrupted the TEC network in Liege and Charleroi, leading to most buses being out of service.
The organizers of Pro League, Belgium’s top football league, postponed the quarter-finals of the Belgian Cup due to the severe weather.
No major disruptions were reported in Belgium’s railway system, despite the cold wave and sub-zero temperatures experienced on Wednesday.
The Royal Meteorological Institute issued a yellow alert for freezing rain and slippery road conditions across Belgium, as temperatures are expected to drop even further later in the week.
In the Netherlands, heavy snow in Limburg province led to long traffic jams, with the KNMI forecasting continued snowfall throughout the day.
Dutch traffic association ANWB reported 35 traffic jams covering 155 kilometers of Dutch roads on Wednesday, with reduced train services due to snowy conditions.
In Luxembourg, all schools were closed due to a red alert for freezing rain and heavy snowfall, with the government urging residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary.
Germnay experienced massive disruptions to road, air, and rail traffic due to extreme weather conditions, prompting school closures across the country.
More than 600 flights were canceled at Frankfurt Airport, and takeoffs were suspended due to safety concerns and crowded runways. Munich Airport also anticipated numerous flight cancellations with snowy conditions.
Deutsche Bahn restricted rail operations, leading to cancellations and delays on both regional and long-distance lines, with accidents and traffic jams reported on icy roads.
Heavy snowfall forced the closure of Oslo’s main airport and led to cancellations of all train services in eastern Norway, while Sweden also prepared for a blizzard expected to impact most parts of the country.
In addition, heavy snowfall in the morning caused a jetliner to veer off the taxiway at the airport in Gothenburg and blocked numerous roads in the southwestern region of Sweden.
