Arctic Cold Wave Brings Air, Rail, and Road to a Standstill... This City Paralyzed

Hundreds of Flights Canceled in Amsterdam and Paris Due to Heavy Snowfall
Road and Rail Transport Paralyzed; Authorities Urge Residents to Stay Indoors

An Arctic cold wave and blizzard have swept across Europe, causing major disruptions to air, rail, and road transportation in key cities. As heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures led to widespread flight cancellations and train service suspensions, some regions experienced severe traffic congestion, resulting in significant inconvenience and confusion for residents.

Champs de Mars Park near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, covered in snow. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

According to Reuters and Bloomberg on January 5 (local time), hundreds of flights were canceled due to heavy snowfall in major European cities such as Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Paris, France.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, one of the busiest airports in Europe, was unable to receive arriving flights until noon that day as snow and ice accumulated on the runways. Airport authorities stated that approximately 700 flights were canceled in a single day.

The French Civil Aviation Authority also requested a 15% reduction in takeoff and landing operations at Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport due to safety concerns. Philippe Tabarot, French Minister of Transport, advised passengers to "always check the status of your flight before departure and, if possible, use public transportation to reach the airport."

Vehicles remain congested on the A20 highway near Rotterdam, Netherlands, where a weather warning has been issued due to snow and icy roads. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Road conditions also deteriorated. Across the ?le-de-France region surrounding Paris, a maximum speed limit of 80 km/h was imposed, and traffic jams at one point stretched for up to 1,000 kilometers. This level of congestion was more than three times worse than usual rush hour. As road congestion continued in central Paris, dozens of bus routes were also canceled.

Rail services were disrupted as well. Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the Dutch railway company, suspended all train operations in the Amsterdam area, and Eurostar, the high-speed train connecting the United Kingdom and continental Europe, limited its service to Belgium's Brussels, suspending trains to the Netherlands. Authorities urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel.

This cold wave was caused by a high-pressure system formed over the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic, and has been affecting much of northern and central Europe. According to national meteorological agencies, temperatures in London, United Kingdom, are expected to drop to minus 1 degree Celsius on January 6, while Paris, France, will fall to minus 4 degrees Celsius, which is 7 degrees below the seasonal average. In Munich, Germany, temperatures are forecast to remain between minus 10 and minus 12 degrees Celsius throughout the week.

Some areas in France are expecting up to 15 centimeters of snowfall, and the French Meteorological Agency has issued an orange alert for snow and icy roads in 26 departments across the country, including Paris.