Extreme cold weather has led to significant travel disruptions across northern, central, and eastern Europe, particularly impacting air travel in Finland and rail services in Germany. Thousands of tourists have been stranded at Kittilä airport in Finnish Lapland due to flight cancellations, while other European nations are experiencing challenges from heavy snowfall, strong winds, and icy roads.
Finland: Flight Cancellations in Lapland
Thousands of tourists were stranded in northern Finland on Sunday following flight cancellations at Kittilä airport, located in Finnish Lapland. Temperatures in Kittilä reached minus 37 degrees Celsius (minus 34.6 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday morning and did not exceed minus 35 degrees Celsius throughout the day. These conditions caused difficulties with aircraft de-icing and led to the freezing of ground maintenance and refuelling equipment.
Flights scheduled for Sunday from Kittilä to destinations including London, Bristol, Manchester, Paris, and Amsterdam were canceled. The Finnish Meteorological Institute forecasts temperatures near minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit) for Monday in Kittilä, with a projected low of minus 39 degrees Celsius, indicating that cancellations are expected to continue. The first Monday flight from Kittilä has also been canceled.
Wider European Impact
The current cold spell, described as more severe than in previous years, has affected wide regions of northern, central, and eastern Europe. Heavy snowfall, strong winds, and icy roads have contributed to challenging travel conditions.
- Germany: Train passengers experienced significant delays and cancellations on Sunday. Rail operator Deutsche Bahn had halted all service in the northern region of the country on Friday due to heavy snowfall. In North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous western state, authorities announced that schools would remain closed and transition to online classes on Monday due due to projected icy road conditions.
- Baltic Countries: Drivers in Estonia and Lithuania were advised to postpone all nonessential travel in anticipation of blizzards. Latvia issued a snow alert for its western areas.
While residents of Finland are accustomed to cold winters, the current extreme temperatures and associated weather conditions have created widespread logistical challenges across the continent.