A wave of bad weather and strong winds swept across large areas of northern Europe, causing a complete standstill in vital transport sectors and leaving hundreds of thousands of homes without power, in a scene that reflects the strength of the winter storms hitting the Old Continent this season.
Chaos at airports and train service disruptions
Storms caused widespread disruption to flight schedules across the continent. In the UK, London's Heathrow Airport was forced to cancel nearly 50 flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in terminals. The impact wasn't limited to London; air travel was affected across Europe, reaching as far as Moscow, where more than 300 flights were canceled at its four main airports due to the severe weather.
On the ground transport front, authorities in southwest England, specifically in Cornwall, issued decisions to cancel all train journeys on Friday to ensure passenger safety, while more than 250 schools closed their doors in Scotland, reflecting the extent of the disruption the storm caused to daily life.
Power outages and record-breaking wind speeds
The energy infrastructure was not spared from the effects of the storm, dubbed "Gurity." In France, the energy provider Enedis reported power outages affecting approximately 320,000 homes, mostly in the Normandy region of northern France. French authorities recorded record wind speeds of up to 213 kilometers per hour in the English Channel, a speed capable of causing significant damage to property and power grids.
On the British side, energy provider National Grid reported that around 50,000 homes remained without electricity until Friday afternoon, after the storm brought strong winds and heavy snow that covered large parts of the country overnight.
Climate context and the effects of winter storms
These storms are part of typical European winter weather patterns, where deep low-pressure systems form over the Atlantic Ocean and move eastward toward the continent. Often driven by the powerful jet stream, these storms bring extreme temperature variations and destructive wind speeds. Climate experts warn that the frequency of such extreme events could increase, posing additional challenges to infrastructure in European countries.
These weather events have tangible economic and social repercussions that go beyond simply canceling flights; they disrupt supply chains, increase pressure on emergency services, and inflict significant financial losses on insurance companies and governments to repair damage caused by falling trees and damaged power grids.
Red alerts and expectations of continued volatility
Faced with this situation, meteorologists in both Britain and Germany urged residents to take extreme precautions and stay indoors. A rare red alert was issued for severe winds in the Isles of Scilly. The Met Office also warned of “huge waves” that could pose a significant threat to coastal areas, with up to 30 centimeters of snow expected in Wales and central England, meaning the effects of the low-pressure system are still being felt and could bring further challenges in the coming hours.
