Severe weather forces airport closures, flight cancellations, and travel disruptions as snow and ice grip Europe.
London [UK], January 6: Heavy snowfall and icy conditions caused widespread travel disruptions across the UK and Germany on Sunday, leading to airport closures, flight cancellations, and rail delays.
UK Faces Severe Travel Chaos
The UK’s Met Office issued snow and ice warnings covering Northern Ireland, Scotland, and large parts of central and northern England. A yellow rain warning was also in place for most of Wales.
In response to the adverse weather:
- Manchester Airport temporarily shut down its runways on Sunday morning due to heavy snow, reopening them around 9:45 AM (local time) after clearing operations.
- Liverpool John Lennon Airport also suspended operations briefly before resuming at 10:15 AM.
- Newcastle International Airport reported significant disruptions to flight schedules caused by heavy and persistent snowfall.
- Birmingham Airport closed overnight to clear snow but reopened on Sunday morning, advising passengers to allow extra travel time.
- Bristol Airport faced closure on Saturday due to challenging weather conditions and warned passengers of potential flight delays on Sunday.
Rail and Road Disruptions in the UK
- National Rail warned passengers of delays and speed restrictions on train routes across England, Scotland, and Wales due to icy tracks and snowfall.
- National Highways issued severe weather alerts for snow and ice across England, urging drivers to exercise caution over the weekend.
Germany Grapples with Snowstorm
In Germany, Frankfurt Airport cancelled 120 of its scheduled 1,090 flights on Sunday due to runway clearance delays and reduced visibility.
- Munich Airport operated with only one runway while the second was being cleared, leading to 35 flight cancellations on Saturday and 750 postponed flights rescheduled for Sunday.
- Stuttgart Airport reported delays caused by prolonged de-icing operations.
- Cologne recorded up to 10 cm of fresh snow, causing disruptions on roads and increased accident reports.
Authorities Issue Safety Warnings
Germany’s weather service issued black ice warnings, urging residents to stay indoors unless necessary. Authorities noted that many accidents were caused by drivers using summer tyres on snow-covered roads.
Travelers Advised to Stay Updated
Authorities across both the UK and Germany continue to monitor weather conditions, advising passengers to check flight and train schedules regularly and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.
