LONDON — Snow and icy weather swept through parts of Europe on Saturday, stranding drivers overnight and leaving thousands of homes without power in Britain.
Snow also covered parts of Switzerland and southwestern Germany, and up to 40 centimetres (nearly 16 inches) of snowfall was predicted in higher parts of Germany’s Black Forest.
Many motorists in Britain were forced to abandon their cars or were trapped in vehicles for hours after becoming snowed in. Dozens of people travelling from Sheffield to London spent the night in a church after their bus became stuck.
Parts of northern England saw 11 centimetres (4.3 inches) of snow. Western Power Distribution said 36,000 customers were without power, and another 69,000 had short interruptions to supplies. Staff worked through the night to reconnect customers, but thousands in the East Midlands region were still affected.
Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Leeds Bradford International closed late Friday as workers cleared snow from the runways. The airports have reopened.
A man makes his way through the snow in Stuttgart, southern Germany, Saturday Dec. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/dpa, Daniel Naupold)
British weather forecasts predict more snow showers, mainly in the north, though the main threat would be ice on roads.
The snow was welcomed in the French Alps, which have seen hardly any since the start of the ski season. But with up to 60 centimetres (2 feet) predicted this weekend above 2,000 metres (yards) altitude, one of the busiest vacation weeks of the year looked more promising — if drivers could reach the mountains.
Traffic jams snarled many of France’s major highways on Saturday, with more than three-quarters of the country under severe weather watch.
In the north, the port of Calais closed because of wind gusts.
A car drives on an untreated road in the village of Marsden, northern England, on December 27, 2014. Overnight flurries left parts of Britain blanketed in snow on December 27, causing power shortages and delays at airports. AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFFOLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images
A car drives past snow-covered houses in the village of Marsden, northern England, on December 27, 2014. Overnight flurries left parts of Britain blanketed in snow on December 27, causing power shortages and delays at airports. AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFFOLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images
A sheep stands in a snow-covered farmyard near the village of Marsden, northern England, on December 27, 2014. Overnight flurries left parts of Britain blanketed in snow on December 27, causing power shortages and delays at airports. AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFFOLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images
A snow-covered car stands on an untreated road in the village of Marsden, northern England, on December 27, 2014. Overnight flurries left parts of Britain blanketed in snow on December 27, causing power shortages and delays at airports. AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFFOLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images
Children ride their sledge at the Signal de Botrange, Hautes Fagnes, eastern Belgium, after a snow reached the country, on December 27, 2014. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / NICOLAS LAMBERTNICOLAS LAMBERT/AFP/Getty Images
Snow fall as vehicles move bumper-to-bumper along the motorway near Albertville, on December 27, 2014 as they make their way into the Tarentaise valley in the heart of the French Alps, home to many of the famous French ski resorts. AFP PHOTO / Jean-Pierre CLATOTJEAN-PIERRE CLATOT/AFP/Getty Images
Snow covers the roofs of the houses downtown Bern, Switzerland Saturday Dec. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Keystone,Peter Klaunzer)
A Lufthansa airplane is de-iced during snowfall before takeoff at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, Saturday Dec. 27, 2014. Weather forecasts predict more snow for most parts of Germany. (AP Photo/dpa,Arne Dedert)
A man walks dogs through snow-covered fields near the village of Diggle, northern England, on December 27, 2014. Overnight flurries left parts of Britain blanketed in snow on December 27, causing power shortages and delays at airports. AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFFOLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images
People cross country ski at the Signal de Botrange, Hautes Fagnes, eastern Belgium, after snow reached the country, on December 27, 2014. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / NICOLAS LAMBERTNICOLAS LAMBERT/AFP/Getty Images
Snow fall as vehicles move bumper-to-bumper along the motorway near Albertville, on December 27, 2014 as they make their way into the Tarentaise valley in the heart of the French Alps, home to many of the famous French ski resorts. AFP PHOTO / Jean-Pierre CLATOTJEAN-PIERRE CLATOT/AFP/Getty Images
Flower vendor Eda Erkol waits for clients during snowfall at the weekly open-air market in Wiesbaden, Germany Saturday Dec. 27, 2014.Weather forecasts predict colder temperatures and snowfall for Germany. (AP Photo/dpa, Arne Dedert)
Source:: canada.com
