Extreme cold temperatures, coupled with fierce winds and heavy snowfall, have resulted in thousands of households losing power, while others are stranded for hours on blocked highways in the freezing conditions.
Reportedly, due to the closure of some highways and major roads, transportation in the Nordic region is in chaos. Railway services are also facing issues.
A couple walking their dog by the sea at a southern dock in Helsinki, Finland.
According to Sweden’s public broadcaster, temperatures in the Arctic region of Sweden plummeted to -38 degrees Celsius, with approximately 4,000 households experiencing power outages.
In the southern part of the country, drivers are stuck in their vehicles or evacuated to nearby sports arenas for an overnight stay.
In neighboring Denmark, due to a blizzard hitting the northern and western regions, the police are urging people to avoid unnecessary travel by car.
Meteorologists predict that temperatures will drop even lower later this week.
In Germany, areas that have been dealing with continuous flooding over the past two weeks are now experiencing heavy rainfall again.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz embarked on his second inspection tour this week, examining dams and sandbag filling facilities in the eastern town of Sangerhausen.
In France, after days of continuous rain and rising water levels, several towns in the north were submerged on Thursday, with hundreds forced to evacuate.
A 73-year-old man was found dead in a partially submerged car.
In the UK, the harsh weather has offered little respite. Extensive flooding has occurred in the central regions of England, particularly near the River Trent in Nottinghamshire, and the southern regions have faced additional heavy rain.
As of the evening of January 4th, over 220 flood warnings, indicating an expected flood, are still in place across England, with nearly 300 flood alerts warning of potential flooding.
Several days before this flooding occurred, a storm named “Henk” by the official meteorological department battered large areas of England and Wales.
