Heavy snowfall and freezing rain caused significant disruptions across Europe on Sunday, especially in the U.K. and Germany. Several major airports had to suspend flights due to the adverse weather conditions.
In the U.K., the weather is expected to remain harsh, raising concerns that rural areas, especially in northern England, might get isolated, with snow accumulation reaching up to 40 centimeters (15 inches) above 300 meters (985 feet).
The National Grid, responsible for the country’s electricity supply, has been working to restore power after widespread outages. Their live map indicates power cuts in several areas, including Birmingham in central England, Bristol in the west, and Cardiff in Wales.
Many sporting events have already been postponed due to the weather, although the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United is still set to take place after inspections at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium and in the surrounding area.
Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport were forced to close their runways due to the severe weather, but both airports were expected to reopen them by late Sunday morning. In contrast, Leeds Bradford Airport announced that it had closed its runway on Sunday morning.
The road network was severely affected, particularly on what was expected to be a busy day with many families returning from the Christmas and New Year holidays and students heading back to universities. Local authorities had already closed several roads in advance, but stranded vehicles and accidents caused further disruptions.
On the railways, numerous services were canceled, and National Rail issued a warning of continued disruptions into the workweek.
The Met Office, the UK’s primary weather forecaster, reported that sleet and snow would continue to move northward on Sunday, with the heaviest snowfall expected in northern England and southern Scotland. The south, which had experienced freezing rain — rain that freezes upon contact due to extreme cold — would see milder weather conditions.
The Environment Agency has issued eight flood warnings in southern England, specifically for the River Taw and River Avon.
In Germany, snow and ice caused significant disruptions as a winter storm moved in from the southwest. Authorities issued black ice warnings for both drivers and pedestrians, advising people to remain indoors when possible.
At Frankfurt airport, 120 out of 1,090 planned flights were canceled on Sunday, as reported by the Fraport press office. Munich airport had only one runway operational, while the other was being cleared.
In Baden-Württemberg, a bus skidded off the road near Hemmingen, injuring eight people. Additionally, long-distance train services in the Frankfurt area faced irregularities.