More than 10 people have died in weather-related accidents across Europe this week. Local media in Turkey reported the latest deaths, revealing five fatalities.
Thousands of homes and businesses across northern France, as well as southern England, were without energy on Friday, 23 January morning. Many people faced widespread travel delays elsewhere in Europe after Storm Goretti swept in from the Atlantic, carrying high winds, rain, and snowfall to the region.
French energy provider Enerdis said that the storm system cut energy to about 380,000 homes in northern Normandy.
French authorities reported overnight gusts reaching speeds of up to 216 kmph in the northwestern Manche region.
The authorities also reported that the strong winds toppled numerous trees, one of which collided with a residential building. This was in France’s Seine-Maritime region, without causing injuries.
Many parts of northern France kept their schools closed, while 30 other regions issued weather alerts.
Overnight, the far northwest of France witnessed giant sea waves crashing over the harbour walls. The storm moved eastwards, bringing flooding and forcing the closure of roads and ports that included Dieppe.
Elsewhere in Europe, northern Germany faced severe disruptions from heavy snowfall and high winds brought by Storm Elli. Schools were ordered to close in Hamburg, while Bremen and long-distance rail services were cancelled.
Flights were also cancelled or postponed at Hamburg airport. Also, several main roads were paralysed, which included several hundred kilometres in the southern region of Frankfurt.
Meanwhile, the German weather service warned of hurricane-force winds in areas along the North Sea and in the southwest. Up to 15 centimetres of snowfall was reported in many parts of the country on Friday, January 23.
On the sports front, heavy snowfall forced the cancellation of Leipzig’s German Bundesliga football match against St Pauli on Saturday, 24 January. Many other games were in doubt.
