Heavy snowfall across the United Kingdom and Germany has caused significant disruptions to transportation on Sunday, January 5, 2025, affecting numerous airports and stranding travelers due to hazardous conditions.
Reports indicate several inches of snow fell across England and Wales overnight, with the UK Met Office noting as much as 12 centimeters blanketting the West Yorkshire region. Some areas above 300 meters shouldered 40 centimeters of snow, prompting swift action from local authorities and transport officials.
Airports such as Manchester and Liverpool were immediately impacted, halting all runway operations as teams worked to clear snow. Manchester Airport remarked on X, "Les opérations reprendront le plus rapidement possible," expressing hope to resume services shortly. Similarly, Liverpool Airport's officials advised travelers to contact their airlines due to the closures. By the middle of the morning, Manchester Airport indicated delays would persist as ground crews focused on de-icing aircraft for safe departures.
Outside the UK, the snowstorm also wreaked havoc across Germany, where flight schedules were thrown off course. Frankfurt Airport, being the country’s largest, reported the cancellation of 120 flights out of approximately 1,090 initially scheduled. Passenger traffic fell victim to poor visibility and icy conditions. Munich Airport followed suit, announcing the cancellation of 35 flights as early as Saturday night, well before Sunday’s storm settled over the region.
The weather chaos had begun affecting airports even on Friday, with Berlin-Brandenburg reporting disruption due to freezing rain, resulting in 30 canceled flights, highlighting the widespread impact of the winter storm across Northern Europe.
Back to the UK, the inclement weather extended beyond air travel, affecting road transportation as well. National Highways cautioned drivers about numerous road closures due to accumulated snow. A substantial part of the highway heading north from Hampshire was closed due to flooding caused by the overnight snowfall.
The adverse conditions also led to power outages for households across England and Wales as the storm moved through. Many regions are expecting hazardous travel conditions to continue until the weather improves.
Authorities recommend telecommuting where possible, with officials emphasizing the importance of safety during severe weather events. They advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel to minimize risk on the roads, which remained perilous due to accumulation and ice.
On Sunday afternoon, the German meteorological agency lifted weather alerts prompting caution and indicating conditions would improve relatively soon. The UK forecast, according to Met Office, aligns with this optimism, stating, "La situation devrait s'améliorer dans la journée de dimanche,” providing travelers with renewed hope for restored services and clearer skies.
Overall, the heavy snowfall has not only strained air travel but also disrupted everyday life for many residents across Europe. With recovery efforts underway and positive forecasts from weather experts, there remains hope for normalcy to return soon.