Heavy snowfall is causing traffic disruptions in several European countries, especially France and the Netherlands, resulting in six deaths and numerous flight cancellations.
Foreign news agencies reported on 6 Jan 2026 that heavy snow and freezing temperatures below zero have widely affected travel across many European countries. So far, six people have died due to weather-related causes.
In France, three people died in two car accidents in the Landes department in the southwest, caused by the “black ice” phenomenon where roads are coated with ice. Another two fatalities occurred in two separate car accidents around Paris.
Meanwhile, a woman was reported dead in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, after the city received 16 inches (40 centimeters) of snow on Monday. Trees, unable to bear the snow’s weight, broke and fell on her.
Additionally, hundreds of flights have been canceled across Europe, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at airports in Paris and Amsterdam. The disruptions are expected to continue through Wednesday (7 Jan).
Paris authorities stated that Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport will cancel up to 40% of flights for several hours on Wednesday morning to allow snow removal from runways. Orly Airport plans to cancel one in four flights during the same period.
At Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, over 400 flights will be canceled on Wednesday. Most canceled flights are operated by Dutch airline KLM, which warned that its aircraft de-icing fluid supplies are nearly depleted due to severe weather and delivery delays.
Philippe Tabarot, France’s Minister of Transport, said more snow is expected on Tuesday night and Wednesday. He urged the public to avoid road travel as much as possible and encouraged working from home.
France’s National Meteorological Service announced orange warnings in 38 departments on Wednesday due to snow and “black ice.” Several train routes in parts of the country have already been canceled.
Rail travel has also been affected. On Tuesday morning, all train services in the Netherlands were temporarily halted due to an IT system failure. Some trains resumed after 9:00 a.m. local time, but delays persisted throughout the day.
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Source:bbc