BERLIN (AP) — Heavy snow and freezing rain hit parts of northern and central Europe on Wednesday, bringing transport to a halt in some Scandinavian regions and causing major disruption at airports in Frankfurt and Oslo.
At Frankfurt Airport, Germany's busiest, freezing rain forced a halt to takeoffs, German news agency dpa reported. The airport cited a danger of de-iced aircraft icing up again as they taxied toward the runway. Some departures resumed in the afternoon as the rain subsided. Hundreds of flights already had been canceled.
The airport in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, was closed temporarily as heavy snow reduced visibility for pilots. Airport spokesperson Ylva Celius Trulsen said the huge amount of snow and wind hampering traffic was “very unusual" and the resulting closure was ”extremely rare.” The airport reopened later Wednesday.
Heavy snowfall brought traffic to a standstill in large parts of Scandinavia, with roads and highways clogged with stranded motorists, public transportation delays, cancellations on some ferry routes and the closure of some bridges. Police in several parts of Denmark urged people to stay home. Southern Sweden also saw heavy snowfall.
The freezing rain across western and southern Germany led to many accidents on icy roads early Wednesday. As a precaution, many schools and kindergartens closed and some companies offered employees the option of working from home.
National train operator Deutsche Bahn canceled several long-distance trains and announced that the maximum speed of its ICE high-speed trains was limited to 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph) for the day as a precaution.
The small airport in Saarbruecken closed for the day, and there were delays and cancellations in Munich and elsewhere.
Passenger planes are parked at Frankfurt Airport, Germany, early Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Heavy snowfalls and freezing rain across Germany Wednesday led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and trains, crashes on icy roads, and school closures. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)
A person sleeps on a bench in the departure hall at Munich Airport, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Heavy snowfalls and freezing rain across Germany Wednesday led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and trains, crashes on icy roads, and school closures. (Matthias Balk/dpa via AP)
A man looks at the flight schedule on a display board, showing several flights canceled (annulliert), at Munich Airport, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Heavy snowfalls and freezing rain across Germany Wednesday led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and trains, crashes on icy roads, and school closures. (Matthias Balk/dpa via AP)
Railroad workers clear the tracks of snow on northern Germany's 1,142-meter (3,743 feet) highest mountain 'Brocken' at the Harz mountains near Schierke, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Railroad workers clear the tracks of snow on northern Germany's 1,142-meter (3,743 feet) highest mountain 'Brocken' at the Harz mountains near Schierke, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
A railroad worker clears the tracks of snow on northern Germany's 1,142-meter (3,743 feet) highest mountain 'Brocken' at the Harz mountains near Schierke, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Railroad worker clear the tracks of snow on northern Germany's 1,142-meter (3,743 feet) highest mountain 'Brocken' at the Harz mountains near Schierke, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Railroad workers clear the tracks from snow on northern Germany's 1,142-meter (3,743 feet) highest mountain 'Brocken' at the Harz mountains near Schierke, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
A Lufthansa aircraft is de-iced at Frankfurt Airport, Germany, early Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Heavy snowfalls and freezing rain across Germany Wednesday led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and trains, crashes on icy roads, and school closures. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)
A salt truck drives on the highway as rain sets in combined with low temperatures in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A steam train travels through a snow covered landscape near northern Germany's 1,142-meter (3,743 feet) highest mountain 'Brocken' at the Harz mountains near Schierke, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
A Lufthansa aircraft is de-iced at Frankfurt Airport, Germany, early Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Heavy snowfalls and freezing rain across Germany Wednesday led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and trains, crashes on icy roads, and school closures. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)
Steams rise from towers of the J'nschwalde lignite-fired power plant in Peitz, Brandenburg, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (Patrick Pleul/dpa via AP)
Youngs enjoy sliding on the abundant snow in Soendermarken, Frederiksberg in Copenhagen, Wednesday Jan. 17 2024. (Nils Meilvang/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
A salt truck drives on the highway as rain sets in combined with low temperatures in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
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