France/Europe - extreme weather

France on ice alert as Europe freezes

Article published on the 2010-01-06 Latest update 2010-01-06 14:39 TU

Briton Shane Wilkinson takes his Siberian Huskies Molly, Zia, Nikita, and Ash out on a training run in the snow in Wilton, Wiltshire, southern England
(Photo: Reuters)

Heavy snowfalls have wrought havoc across much of northern Europe which is experiencing its coldest winter for decades. Western France was on alert Wednesday as snow crossed the country, causing travel problems on the roads and Eurostar cancellations.

The snow comes amid feezing temperatures which show no sign of abating before the middle of next week.

Brittany and Normandy were worst hit on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, with 15 centimetres of snow falling in parts of the north-west.

School buses stopped running in parts of Normandy, heavy goods vehicles were banned from using the roads in some areas and 300 lorries were stranded in a lorry park in the Channel port of Cherbourg.

The night saw a surge in electricity consumption to 20 per cent above the usual level for the time of year. Electricity suppliers were preparing for power cuts.

In the Loire-Atlantique department, extra accomodation for the homeless is being provided as part of severe weather preparations.

Eurostar, which saw major disruption before Christmas, reported four last-minute cancellations of the Channel tunnel rail service from London to Paris or Brussels overnight. More are possible Wednesday, the company's website says. It advises passengers to change their tickets if their journey is not essential.

Britain has seen its lowest temperatures since 1981, according to the Met Office, with cold air coming from Siberia picking up humidity when it crosses the North Sea and dumping up to 30 centimetres of snow on the islands.

In northern England and Scotland schools and airports are closed, with Geneva-UK flights cancelled.

In Switzerland three people, including a German skier, have been found after being swept away by avalanches in the Alps.

Temperatures hit -41°C in Roeros, central Norway, where transport has been disrupted.

The people of The Hague, The Netherlands, took the cold in their stride, with 1,400 expected to go skating on the town's frozen lake.

Neighbouring Belgium is worried that a shortage of salt will prevent it clearing its roads when the snow hits.

Torrential rain in Italy had led to fears that the River Tiber will flood Rome.