Thousands of travelers have been forced to seek emergency shelter in France as a snowstorm hit a popular ski region during the holiday season. Authorities have urged drivers to delay their trips if possible.
Image: AFP/Getty Images/J.-P. Clatot
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Motorists in the French Alps were being urged to postpone their travel plans or seek shelter for the night as heavy holiday traffic combined with a heavy snowfall made for a weekend of traffic delays.
In the Savoie region of eastern France, about 15,000 travelers had to seek shelter in 83 emergency shelters overnight to Sunday, while others spent a chilly night in their cars after delays of several hours.
"Getting to the ski stations is still pretty tricky and snow chains are mandatory. The advice is that all those who can should delay their journey," the French Transport Ministry said in a statement.
Although the weather conditions are not unusual for this time of year in Europe, they were severe enough to be hazardous for drivers, especially with the number of vehicles on the roads.
Winter (finally!) arrives in parts of Europe
Cold weather is upon Germany, and with it, snow. Parts of the country are expected to stay blanketed in white until after the New Year.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Kusch
White, white West
Western and southwestern Germany received the most snowfall just after Christmas, as seen in Recklinghausen, shown here. In the Eifel mountain range, Sauerland and the Bergisches Land, up to 15 centimeters of snow had fallen by Saturday evening.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Kusch
Winter sport warning
Saxony's Erz Mountains and the Lower Saxony's Harz Mountains and the country's eastern-most Brocken mountain, there is now a blanket of snow up to 15 centimeters deep. Snowdrifts and gusting winds have led weather officials to issue warnings to people out enjoying winter sports to take care while skiing and hiking.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Rampfel
But a little exercise will do!
Despite low-level warnings, those not hibernating went outside to enjoy some time on the slopes - a good way to get rid of an extra pound or two gained over the holidays!
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Naupold
On a sled through Berlin
People were enjoying the winter's first snowfall in Berlin-Zehlendorf on Saturday. Berlin's parks are full of happy holidaymakers walking or sledding through the winter wonder land.
Image: Getty Images/S. Gallup
That pesky sleet
The disadvantage of snowfall is, of course, noticed by anyone who needs to scrape the car free of snow and ice. While cyclists and bus passengers are spared that frigid work, the traffic jams and longer commuting times have affected nearly everyone traveling in Germany.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Kahnert
Slippery, slick, icy roads
Even when they're not slick and treacherous, snowy roads can also be simply annoying as they snarl traffic and lengthen travel times. On one of Germany's autobahns, there was a backup of traffic 20 kilometers long near Stuttgart.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Kusch
From Hiltrud with love
The low pressure system Hiltrud was what brought snow to Germany after forming late Friday over Britain. The storm left this blanket of white in Hanbury, England, and forced the temporary closure of the Port of Calais in northern France.
Image: Getty Images/C. Furlong
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The northern French port of Calais was also temporarily closed due to heavy winds. In Germany, the snowy weather resulted in a 20-kilometer (12-mile) traffic jam near Stuttgart on Saturday.
Icy conditions also caused the cancellation of 20 of the more than 900 planned flights from Frankfurt Airport on Sunday, while in the UK more than 100,000 households suffered power cuts.
Despite the travel chaos, the arrival of fresh white powder was a welcome relief for ski resorts which have struggled with a lack of snow and mild temperatures.
