Storm Darcy disrupts travel in Britain, France and Netherlands

Trains and planes are cancelled in the three countries, with routes impossible to travel.

A large amount of snow is forecast to cover the east of England as Storm Darcy continues to hit the country. The east and southeast of the country are badly affected, with the police recommending not to travel, due to the interruptions in routes, trains and airplanes.

The Met Office has issued severe ‘amber’ snow warnings for London and the south-east of England, where heavy snow is likely causing long delays on the roads and affecting rail and air travel. Power outages are likely, as well as interruptions in mobile phone services.

Worst snowfall in 10 years in Netherlands

Darcy also arrived in full force in the Netherlands. From Sunday they suffered the worst snowfall in 10 years, with disrupted rail traffic, cancelled planes, and routes under ice. Weer.nl, a Dutch meteorological site, recalls that ‘a similar snowfall occurred in January 2010’. Snow ranges from six to 12 inches across the country, with a ‘red alert’ issued.

Darcy is coming to the north of France, especially Calais, and is expected in Paris and the Grand East on Tuesday. There is a risk of avalanches in the mountains when the French are on school holidays.

In early February, an avalanche at a ski resort on Utah claimed the lives of four individuals.

The country faces ‘a cold continental air mass’, which will reach ‘various northern regions, causing snowfall in particular’, specified Météo France. The episode should mainly extend from Normandy to the Grand East, and to Hauts-de-France.

‘Notable snowfall’ forecast in France

In addition to this cold wave, Météo France forecasts a ‘notable snowfall’ in the country. Starting on 9 February, snowfall should occur in Brittany (10 cm of snow is expected) and Normandy (up to 15 cm locally). Heavy rains are also expected in the south.

“This cold wave is not going to subside before the end of the week,” said Météo France.

The Charente river reached a peak of 6.20 metres on Monday in Saintes, one of the hardest-hit municipalities in Charente-Maritime, where river levels have been at their highest for almost 30 years. This new ‘historic’ flood exceeds that of 2007 (5.64 metres ).

In January, a fierce snowstorm in Japan has left hundreds injured and at least eight people have died.