'Minus 40 Degrees' Monster Cold Wave Hits... Thousands Stranded as All Flights Canceled in Finland

Flight Cancellations Due to Aircraft De-icing and Airport Operation Disruptions
Temperatures Expected to Drop to Minus 40 Degrees on the 12th
Cold Wave Impacts Many Parts of Europe

An extreme cold wave has swept through Finland, leading to the complete cancellation of flights at airports in the northern region. Across Europe, severe cold and heavy snowfall are also restricting the movement of tourists and residents.

A person passing by an electronic billboard showing minus 33 degrees Celsius in Finland on the 9th local time. Photo by AP

On January 11 (local time), the Associated Press reported that "thousands of tourists were stranded after flights were canceled due to the extreme cold at Kittila Airport in northern Finland."

According to the report, the temperature at Kittila Airport, located in the Lapland region of northern Finland, dropped to minus 37 degrees Celsius that morning.

Kittila is situated in a sparsely populated area of northern Finland. Kittila Airport is primarily used by tourists visiting Lapland for skiing or to see the aurora borealis.

Due to the ongoing severe cold over the past several days, de-icing operations for aircraft and general airport operations have become difficult, resulting in the cancellation of all departing flights from the airport.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute forecasted that the cold wave in the Kittila area would persist, with temperatures expected to approach minus 40 degrees Celsius on January 12.

While harsh winter cold is typical in Finland, this year's cold wave is reportedly much more severe than usual.

On the 7th (local time), near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, some areas were hit by winter snow and severe cold, showing the snow-covered ground. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

This cold snap is affecting not only Finland and other Nordic countries but also much of Central and Eastern Europe. With continued heavy snowfall and strong winds, icy roads have formed in many places, leaving both residents and tourists stranded.

In Germany, rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) completely suspended train services in the northern region due to heavy snowfall, and train delays and cancellations have continued through the day.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state in western Germany, all schools decided to close the following day and switch to online classes in anticipation of icy roads.

In the Baltic coastal countries of Estonia and Lithuania, authorities asked drivers to refrain from unnecessary travel after blizzard warnings were issued. Neighboring Latvia also issued a heavy snow warning for its western region.