A massive winter storm brought snow, ice, and freezing rain to Europe and the U.S. this week, creating hazardous travel conditions and widespread disruption. Some parts of the United States may experience the “heaviest snowfall in a decade.”
Authorities in both regions warned residents to brace for potentially record-breaking snowfall.
Heavy snow disrupts flights in the UK and Germany
Heavy snowfall disrupted air travel in the United Kingdom and Germany, with several airports airports across the UK closing their runways Sunday because of heavy snow and ice.
Manchester Airport, the country’s third largest airport by passenger size, said on Sunday morning that it had temporarily closed its runways due to heavy snow. Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Birmingham Airport also temporarily closed its runway on Sunday. Several airports that closed their doors on Saturdays and Sundays reopened in a few hours.
Train routes in England, Scotland and Wales were also affected by the poor weather, the country’s National Rail. “Ice and snow can mean speed restrictions and line closures are implemented to ensure trains are able to run safely on the railway,” it said on Sunday morning.
In Germany, snow and poor visibility forced the cancellation of dozens of flights at Germany’s largest Frankfurt Airport, where nearly 120 out of some 1,090 flights were canceled. Meanwhile, Munich Airport operated with a single runway.
Authorities issued black ice warnings and advised residents to stay home. A bus accident near Hemmingen injured eight people, and train services faced irregularities in Frankfurt.
Europe grapples with winter chaos
In the UK, up to 40 centimeters (15 inches) of snow blanketed areas above 300 meters (985 feet), particularly in northern England and southern Scotland. The Met Office described the snowfall as among the heaviest in recent years. Freezing rain created treacherous conditions in southern England, while flood warnings were issued for rivers Taw and Avon.
Travel chaos followed as airports, roads, and train networks were severely affected. Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport temporarily closed runways, while Leeds Bradford Airport experienced prolonged delays.
Many UK roads were closed preemptively, but stranded vehicles and accidents compounded the disruption. Rail services faced cancellations and delays, with disruptions expected to spill into the workweek.
Sporting events were widely postponed, but the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United went ahead after local inspections deemed Anfield and surrounding areas safe.
Major incidents have been declared in the UK as heavy rain, snow, and ice lead to severe flooding and rescues. In Lincolnshire and Leicestershire, floodwaters trapped dozens of people, with 59 rescued in Leicestershire and 50 children evacuated from a flooded school.
Nearly 200 flood warnings have been issued, including a severe warning in Leicestershire for the River Soar, which poses a life-threatening risk. Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in effect across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and parts of England until Tuesday morning.
Severe storm sweeps across Central US
The same storm system wreaked havoc in parts of the U.S., with the National Weather Service warning of the “heaviest snowfall in at least a decade” for some areas.
Kansas, western Nebraska, and parts of Indiana were particularly hard-hit, with up to 35 centimeters (14 inches) of snow reported in some locations.
Blizzard conditions, with wind gusts up to 72 km/h (45 mph), swept through Kansas and Missouri, closing major highways and stranding vehicles. Indiana’s National Guard was deployed to assist motorists stuck on snow-covered roads, including portions of Interstate 64, Interstate 69, and U.S. Route 41.
“It’s snowing so hard, the snow ploughs go through and then within a half hour the roadways are completely covered again,” Sergeant Todd Ringle said. The National Weather Service extended warnings to New Jersey for Monday and early Tuesday.
62 million people under threat of major winter storm in US
A winter storm brought snow, ice, wind, and plunging temperatures to the central U.S., creating dangerous travel conditions. Major roadways in Kansas, western Nebraska, and parts of Indiana were blanketed, with the National Guard activated in Indiana to assist stranded motorists.
This powerful weather system is set to batter at least a dozen states with a potent mix of snow, ice, and blizzard conditions, accompanied by winds gusting up to 40 mph.
“For some, this could be the heaviest snowfall in over a decade,” NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center warned.
The massive winter storm, set to impact 62 million people across 1,300 miles of the U.S., will bring heavy snow, ice, rain, and severe thunderstorms from Saturday through Monday. This storm will stretch from the Plains to the East Coast, impacting areas not typically prone to winter weather.
With the storm affecting millions across the U.S. and Europe, authorities continue to urge caution. The potential for record-breaking snowfall and dangerous road conditions highlights the magnitude of this weather event, which experts warn is far from over.
Icy storm could hit more than 20 US states
A major storm is expected to develop over the central U.S. on Wednesday night and Thursday, potentially bringing wintry weather to over 20 states through Saturday, including areas less familiar with harsh winter conditions.
Following the first significant winter storm of the season, which impacted the Plains and Mid-Atlantic, this new system may bring snow and ice to northern and western Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, northern Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri on Thursday and Friday. Cities like Dallas-Fort Worth, Abilene, Roswell, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, and Little Rock could see several inches of snow, creating hazardous travel and possible disruptions.
By Friday, snow may spread to Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and the Carolinas, with additional snow affecting the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast by Friday night and Saturday. Snow and ice amounts will depend on the storm’s track, which remains uncertain.