Intense snowfall and freezing rain wreaked havoc across Europe on Sunday, causing major disruptions in the UK and Germany, AP reported. Several airports grounded flights, while icy conditions crippled roads and railways.
In the UK, snow continued to fall heavily, particularly in northern England. Some rural communities risked isolation as snow depths reached 15 inches at higher elevations. The National Grid worked to restore power to thousands of homes, with outages reported in Birmingham, Bristol, and Cardiff.
Airports faced significant challenges. Runways at Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport shut down overnight but reopened by Sunday afternoon. Leeds Bradford Airport struggled longer to resume flights.
Road closures and traffic accidents created chaos on what would have been a busy travel day. Families returning from holiday breaks and students heading back to universities found their plans disrupted.
Train cancellations also compounded the issues, with National Rail warning of lingering delays into the workweek.
In Germany, snow and ice also caused widespread problems. Frankfurt Airport canceled 120 flights, and Munich Airport operated with only one runway for much of the day. Black ice warnings led officials to urge drivers and pedestrians to stay home.
Meanwhile, a bus accident in Baden-Wuerttemberg injured eight people when the vehicle skidded off the road. Train services around Frankfurt also experienced delays and cancellations.