Air, train travel disrupted as snow hits Netherlands

Snow in Amsterdam.

AMSTERDAM–Some 550 gritting lorries and snow ploughs were in action on the Dutch roads on Sunday as snow blanketed most of the country.

  By 11:00am, travel information service VID said it had reports of at least 50 accidents, as cars skidded on the slippery roads. The ANWB motoring organisation said drivers should not go out unless their journeys were essential.

  Train travel was also disrupted and dozens of flights to and from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport were cancelled because of the snow. According to one report, KLM cancelled at least 94 flights on Sunday.

  Many sports events were scrapped including matches planned by Dutch soccer association KNVB.

  The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute KNMI weather bureau issued a code orange weather warning for all of the Netherlands but Zeeland and the Wadden Islands on Sunday. The KNMI forecasted snow over most of the country, with the north and north east to get up to 15 centimetres.

  However, the snow did not last in most places as the temperature rose to around seven degrees Celsius later in the day and the snow turned to rain. In the north it was colder, with the snow more likely to stick.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/71742-air-train-travel-disrupted-as-snow-hits-netherlands