Cold snap hits Europe

An early winter cold spell brought heavy snowfall to parts of Europe this weekend, paralysing public transport and roads and cutting electricity to tens of thousands of households.

Ski slopes in Belgium and Germany opened early after as much as eight inches of snow fell overnight in some countries, while in Paris, the Eiffel Tower closed to the public for four hours on Saturday after snowfall made it too slippery to climb.

The winter storm hit hard in the Netherlands, where high winds and sudden freezing temperatures caused havoc on the national rail and road networks. Hundreds of stranded Dutch commuters spent Friday night in temporary Red Cross shelters at train stations, theatres and more than a dozen other locations.

Road traffic officials reported the worst gridlock in the country’s history, with hundreds more people sleeping in their cars after waiting up to 10 hours alongside highways. Elsewhere, tens of thousands were still without electricity after ice and snow snapped power lines.

Dutch traffic authorities warned drivers to stay off the roads as more than an inch of snow fell in an hour. Roads and railways were also blocked by fallen trees and bus companies cancelled services as winds of more than 100 miles per hour swept in off the North Sea.

The winter storm was caused by a low pressure zone over Western Europe which brought the most sudden drop in air pressure in decades, the National Weather Institute said.

Problems due to the sudden cold weather were also reported in Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy and Greece. Deaths were reported in Belgium and the Czech Republic.

For some, the chilling winds brought an early winter treat as ski slopes opened in the Belgian Ardennes region and hilly central Germany.

In the Netherlands, hundreds of vehicles were involved in crashes, but no fatalities were reported. More than 60 people were reported injured in Germany, and 250,000 people were left without electricity after the snow brought power lines down.

Flight delays were reported in Amsterdam and Brussels. In Germany’s Duesseldorf, eight inches of snow forced the international airport to close for four hours, with planes diverted to Cologne-Bonn airport. Paris’ main airport, Charles de Gaulle, cancelled dozens flights because of the snow.

Railway traffic was also disrupted.