Snowstorm Pounds Netherlands, Germany; 4 Skiers Killed In US

Several trains cancelled across Europe; motorists warned; Britain issues amber warning in England which media dubs as the ‘Beast from the East II’

The Netherlands was blanketed on Sunday by the first major snowstorm to hit the country in 10 years, disrupting rail and road traffic, as a cold front pushed through northern Europe.

Train services were also affected by snow in neighbouring Germany, while across the North Sea Britain was bracing for the impact what Dutch meteorologists have dubbed Storm Darcy.

The conditions are so severe that the Dutch government has closed all coronavirus testing centres for several days.

The Dutch meteorological agency KNMI declared a rare “Code Red” warning for the whole country for Sunday, warning of winds of up to 90kph and “bitter cold.” Weather forecasting website Weer.nl said that overnight a force 8 wind was measured in combination with snowfall, adding: “This officially means a snowstorm in our country.” “It is the first snowstorm in a long time: the last snowstorm took place in January 2010,” it said.

Most parts of the country had between five and 10cm of snow but some areas received 30cm, public broadcaster NOS said.

All trains were cancelled in the Netherlands until at least 12 noon, train operator NS said.