Severe winter weather disrupted daily life across northwest Europe on Wednesday as snow and ice snarled transport networks, while residents and tourists embraced rare scenes across Paris with unusual enthusiasm. Storm Goretti swept inland from the Atlantic at dawn, blanketing the French capital in heavy snow and forcing widespread transport suspensions and flight cancellations. As buses stopped running on a key retail day, the city witnessed both chaos and celebration unfolding side by side.
Read more : Europe sets up body for Ukraine reparations
Despite the disruption, Parisians and visitors turned adversity into delight, skiing and sledging through Montmartre and the gardens near the Eiffel Tower, while others improvised with plastic bags on snowy slopes. Residents described the atmosphere as extraordinary, noting the joy among tourists experiencing a snow-covered Paris rarely seen in winter. Meanwhile, France’s weather authorities warned snowfall would continue across much of the northern country.
Air travel faced severe pressure as KLM cancelled around 600 flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, marking a sixth consecutive day of disruption at one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs. The airline also warned de-icing fluid supplies were running critically low, complicating recovery efforts. In France, regulators ordered airlines to reduce operations at Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport to manage safety risks.
Read more : Europe fears ‘ugly deal’ as Trump pushes Ukraine peace
Elsewhere, rail and road travel suffered similar setbacks, with Eurostar reporting major delays and cancellations, while Brussels Airport experienced intermittent disruption. Authorities in the Netherlands urged people to work from home, and France imposed truck bans across numerous departments. Retailers warned that supply chains, particularly fresh food deliveries, could face short-term strain.
Further east, extreme cold gripped Germany, with temperatures dropping below minus 10 degrees Celsius, though major traffic disruption remained limited for now. Spain also faced unusual snowfall, suspending commuter rail services near Madrid and blocking dozens of roads nationwide. Officials cautioned that conditions could worsen if freezing temperatures persist.
In the Western Balkans, heavy snow and rain trapped passengers on a train in Croatia for more than twelve hours after fallen trees blocked tracks, highlighting the storm’s severity. Parts of Bosnia and Serbia declared emergencies amid power outages, while schools closed across regions of Poland and transport delays hit Hungary. Authorities across Europe urged caution as the cold spell showed little sign of easing.