Cold wave hits Europe: Travel paralyzed and schools closed in Britain and France
Europe, particularly its northwest regions, is experiencing cold wave , considered among the harshest of the current winter season. This has brought transportation, communication, and education sectors in Britain , France , and the Netherlands . These extreme weather conditions, accompanied by heavy snowfall and a sharp drop in temperatures, have led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and the disruption of international and domestic train services.
Widespread disruptions to international travel
At the heart of this crisis, Eurostar, the vital link between the UK and mainland Europe, faced significant operational difficulties. The company was forced to ask passengers traveling between London and the Netherlands to postpone their journeys, as trains beyond Brussels were unable to run due to heavy snowfall and icy tracks. These disruptions compounded the travel chaos caused by power outages in the Channel Tunnel on New Year's Eve, just days after the disruption caused by the power cuts.
Six major trains between London's St. Pancras International and Paris's Gare du Nord were cancelled, while the remaining journeys suffered lengthy delays, resulting in overcrowding at stations.
Climate context and its regional impacts
This cold wave is the result of an influx of extremely cold polar air masses toward the south of the continent, a weather pattern that recurs during harsh winters. However, its intensity this year has placed immense pressure on infrastructure. Historically, northern European countries face logistical challenges when temperatures plummet to record lows, as power grids and railways, which may not be designed to withstand prolonged freezing temperatures, are affected.
The impact of this weather is not limited to inconveniencing travelers, but extends to include significant economic repercussions, such as delays in supply chains, disruption to employees' access to their jobs, and increased pressure on emergency and rescue services, causing significant daily losses to local economies.
Air traffic collapses at major airports
The aviation sector was not spared from this snowstorm; airport runways turned into white spaces unfit for takeoff and landing in several cities:
- The Netherlands: Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport saw the cancellation of nearly 700 flights, representing more than half of its operational schedule, with expectations that the crisis will continue.
- France: The Civil Aviation Authority has reduced flights by 15% at Paris' Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports to ease pressure and avoid accidents.
- Britain: Cancellations affected Liverpool, Aberdeen, Inverness and Belfast airports.
School closures and public safety warnings
Locally, the severe weather slowed daily life. In the United Kingdom, authorities closed more than 212 schools in Northern Ireland, as well as dozens more in Scotland, Wales, and northern England, to ensure the safety of students.
In Scotland, where temperatures plummeted to -10.9°C in the Shab Highlands, snowplows worked around the clock to clear 52 centimeters of snow. Police issued stern warnings to motorists to avoid closed roads, while the British Automobile Association (AA) reported a 40% jump in emergency roadside assistance requests.
In the French capital, Paris, the snow caused severe traffic jams and disrupted the bus network, prompting the French meteorological agency, Météo France, to issue an orange alert, warning of the risk of skidding and accidents on highways.
