Heavy snow and freezing rain have caused extensive disruptions across Europe on January 5, particularly impacting the UK and Germany. Several major airports were forced to suspend flights, with concerns rising about rural communities in northern England potentially being cut off due to up to 40 centimeters (15 inches) of snow accumulating.

The National Grid reported ongoing efforts to restore power, as many areas, including Birmingham, Bristol, and Cardiff, faced outages. With a significant number of sporting events postponed, the anticipated Premier League showdown between Liverpool and Manchester United remains scheduled, pending another inspection.

Airports across the affected regions saw critical disruptions. While Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport temporarily closed runways, operations were expected to resume later in the day. Leeds Bradford Airport faced longer delays and operational challenges due to the poor weather conditions.

Travel over the roadways was severely impacted as many families made their way home from the holidays. Authorities had preemptively closed several roads, yet many vehicles became stranded in these harsh conditions, exacerbating the situation. The National Rail service reported numerous cancellations, signaling a prolonged impact into the upcoming week.

The Met Office has warned that sleet and snow showers will continue throughout the day, particularly in northern England and southern Scotland. Milder conditions are anticipated in the south following bouts of freezing rain.

In Germany, the weather similarly wreaked havoc. Frankfurt Airport reported canceling around 120 out of 1,090 flights, while Munich Airport operated with only one open runway. Authorities warned of black ice on the roads, advising the public to remain indoors whenever possible.

As Europe grapples with this winter weather, passengers at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport were also affected, facing 68 cancellations and over 200 delays.

For more details, visit the original source at The Times of India.