Storm Darcy: Netherlands hit by ‘first major snowstorm in decade’
The Netherlands has been hit by its first major snowstorm in a decade, forecasters say, as cold weather pushes through much of northern Europe. Dutch authorities have closed all coronavirus testing centres because of the extreme weather. Transport has been disrupted and rail connections with Germany, where northern areas have also been blanketed by snow, have been suspended. The cold snap is a result of Storm Darcy, which has also affected parts of the UK. A “Code Red” weather warning was declared in the Netherlands for all of Sunday, meaning winds of up to 90km/h (55mph) and “bitter cold” were forecast.
Heavy snow fell throughout much of the day, leading to long delays on the roads. People were advised to avoid travelling and there were reports of dozens of cars skidding off streets. Eindhoven airport closed and incoming flights were diverted to Germany, while Schiphol airport in Amsterdam warned that travellers could face delays.(BBC)…[+]