Western Europea braces for another wave of snow and ice

Western Europe faces travel chaos as Storm Goretti brings heavy snow and ice, cancelling flights, blocking roads, and disrupting trains across France, Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Paris and southern Britain are among the hardest hit, with authorities warning of ongoing severe winter conditions.

REUTERS

7 January 2026 at 08:18:47

Storm Goretti hits Western Europe: heavy snow and icy conditions disrupt flights, trains, and roads across France, Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Charlotte Van Campenhout/Reuters

BRUSSELS — Western Europe braced for more snow and ice on Wednesday as the first named storm of the year, Storm Goretti, swept across the continent's Atlantic coast.

The storm caused widespread disruption, with more flights canceled, train services delayed, and roads blocked. Heavy snow fell in the Paris region early in the morning, while southern Britain is expected to be most affected on Thursday and Friday. Cold weather warnings covered large areas of both France and Britain.

French weather agency Météo France warned of snow extending across the northern half of the country. In the UK, the Met Office said ice warnings would remain in Scotland but would be lifted later in the morning in most of England and Wales.

Paris bus services were suspended, and shops prepared for the first day of New Year sales amid the icy conditions.

The unusually heavy snowfall has caused major travel disruptions this week. Dutch airline KLM canceled 600 flights scheduled for Wednesday at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, marking the sixth consecutive day of interruptions at one of Europe’s busiest hubs. KLM warned that supplies of de-icing fluid for its jets were running low, while Air France said it was not experiencing shortages in France. Schiphol Airport confirmed it still had enough alternative de-icing fluid for runways.

In France, the civil aviation authority instructed airlines to cut 40% of flights at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, the main international airport, and 25% at the smaller Orly Airport.

In Brussels, some flights were canceled, and delays were reported as crews de-iced runways and aircraft. Dutch authorities advised people to work from home if possible. In France, officials banned trucks and school buses on roads in one-third of all administrative departments, mainly in the north.

Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard said the truck ban could disrupt supply chains, especially for fresh produce.

-Reporting by Inti Landauro, Thomas Seythal, and Louise Rasmussen; Editing by Richard Lough and Andrew Heavens/Reuters

Storm Goretti disrupts Western Europe with heavy snow and ice, causing flight cancellations, train delays, and road closures. France and the UK issue cold weather warnings, while travel chaos continues at major airports and authorities restrict road traffic to ensure safety.