January 5th 2025.
On Sunday, Europe was hit with a severe winter storm, bringing heavy snow and freezing rain that caused major disruptions in the UK and Germany. The impact was felt most at airports, with flights being suspended at several major hubs.
As the weather continues to be unfavorable, there are concerns about rural communities in the north of England being cut off. In some areas, there is up to 40cm of snow covering the ground, making travel difficult. The National Grid, which manages the country's electricity network, has been working hard to restore power after widespread outages were reported in cities like Birmingham, Bristol, and Cardiff.
The storm has also affected sporting events, leading to many postponements. However, a highly-anticipated Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United is still on, after careful inspection of the field and local conditions at Liverpool's Anfield stadium. While Liverpool's John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport have resumed operations, it took longer for flights to resume at Leeds Bradford Airport.
The road network has also been heavily impacted, with many roads being preemptively closed by local authorities. However, stranded vehicles and collisions have still caused disruptions, making travel challenging for those returning home from the holiday season or heading back to university.
In addition to flight and road disruptions, train services in the UK have also been affected, with many cancellations and continued disruptions expected throughout the week. The Met Office, Britain's main weather forecaster, has warned of sleet and snow moving north, with the heaviest impact expected in northern England and southern Scotland.
While the southern parts of the UK experienced freezing rain, causing rain to freeze upon impact, milder weather is expected to return. However, the Environment Agency has issued flood warnings for eight rivers in southern England.
The winter storm has also caused chaos in Germany, with a wintry mix of weather spreading from the southwest. Black ice warnings have been issued for drivers and pedestrians, urging people to stay home if possible. At Frankfurt airport, 120 flights were canceled on Sunday, while only one runway was open at Munich airport as crews worked to clear the other one.
In Baden-Wuerttemberg, a bus skidded off the road, injuring eight people near the town of Hemmingen. Long-distance train connections in the Frankfurt area have also been affected, with irregularities being reported.
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