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Airport chaos as Europe freezes Airport chaos as Europe freezes
(10 minutes later)
The icy weather gripping northern Europe has disrupted flights at airports in the UK, France, the Irish Republic and the Netherlands.The icy weather gripping northern Europe has disrupted flights at airports in the UK, France, the Irish Republic and the Netherlands.
Many flights were delayed or cancelled at Orly airport in Paris, Dublin airport and Amsterdam-Schiphol, as well as major UK airports.Many flights were delayed or cancelled at Orly airport in Paris, Dublin airport and Amsterdam-Schiphol, as well as major UK airports.
A Eurostar train was stuck for about two hours in the Channel Tunnel on Thursday. It later reached the UK.A Eurostar train was stuck for about two hours in the Channel Tunnel on Thursday. It later reached the UK.
Four other Eurostar trains were cancelled, a company spokesman said.Four other Eurostar trains were cancelled, a company spokesman said.
At least nine homeless men aged between 42 and 62 have frozen to death in Germany.At least nine homeless men aged between 42 and 62 have frozen to death in Germany.
Many parts of Germany saw temperatures fall below -10C on Thursday, the Deutsche Welle news website reports.Many parts of Germany saw temperatures fall below -10C on Thursday, the Deutsche Welle news website reports.
Widespread delaysWidespread delays
Grit supplies for clearing snow are running very low in many parts of Germany.Grit supplies for clearing snow are running very low in many parts of Germany.
Traffic jams around Schiphol airport made road gritting difficult
In the North Rhine-Westphalia region two derailments in as many days have caused havoc with the rail timetable, triggering cancellations and delays.In the North Rhine-Westphalia region two derailments in as many days have caused havoc with the rail timetable, triggering cancellations and delays.
In the Irish Republic, Dublin airport is open but Knock airport has suspended flights.In the Irish Republic, Dublin airport is open but Knock airport has suspended flights.
All roads into Dublin are extremely icy and hundreds of Irish schools have closed, the Irish Times reports.All roads into Dublin are extremely icy and hundreds of Irish schools have closed, the Irish Times reports.
Heavy snow caused big traffic jams around Amsterdam and Haarlem on Wednesday evening, Radio Netherlands reports. Few buses were running in the affected areas.Heavy snow caused big traffic jams around Amsterdam and Haarlem on Wednesday evening, Radio Netherlands reports. Few buses were running in the affected areas.
In Hemavan, in the far north of Sweden, a new winter low of -40.8C was recorded overnight, Radio Sweden reports.In Hemavan, in the far north of Sweden, a new winter low of -40.8C was recorded overnight, Radio Sweden reports.
The Arctic freeze has also seen temperatures in central Sweden plummet to between -30 and -40C - the coldest weather since the mid-1980s.The Arctic freeze has also seen temperatures in central Sweden plummet to between -30 and -40C - the coldest weather since the mid-1980s.
The winter death toll in Poland has reached 122 - most of the victims reportedly homeless people.The winter death toll in Poland has reached 122 - most of the victims reportedly homeless people.
In Burzyska nad Bugiem, in the east of the country, the army has installed makeshift bridges after flooding and ice split the village in two.In Burzyska nad Bugiem, in the east of the country, the army has installed makeshift bridges after flooding and ice split the village in two.

Why the cold weather?

The current big chill is a result of high pressure over the polar region, which has pushed cold air out of the Arctic towards much of northern Europe, parts of Asia and the US. Winds from the north and north east, rather than the south and south west, have brought freezing temperatures to the UK.
Provisional Met Office figures for December show temperatures for much of the UK were 1.5C and 2.5C below the mean temperatures for the last 30 years. Scotland saw temperatures dip still lower - from 2.5C to 3.5C. On Tuesday, temperatures in Scotland plunged to -15C in places.
Winds from the north also brought cold weather to parts of Asia, with Beijing receiving its heaviest snowfall for nearly 60 years. At the weekend, up to 30cm (12in) of snow fell in China's capital and its neighbouring port city of Tianjin. Dozens of people have also died in a cold snap in northern India.
However, while parts of the world suffer freezing temperatures, the seesaw patterns mean other areas are warmer than usual, including Alaska, northern Canada and the Mediterranean. Met Office figures for the end of 2009 show some places dropped 10C below the average, while others were 10C above.
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Why the cold weather?

The current big chill is a result of high pressure over the polar region, which has pushed cold air out of the Arctic towards much of northern Europe, parts of Asia and the US. Winds from the north and north east, rather than the south and south west, have brought freezing temperatures to the UK.
Provisional Met Office figures for December show temperatures for much of the UK were 1.5C and 2.5C below the mean temperatures for the last 30 years. Scotland saw temperatures dip still lower - from 2.5C to 3.5C. On Tuesday, temperatures in Scotland plunged to -15C in places.
Winds from the north also brought cold weather to parts of Asia, with Beijing receiving its heaviest snowfall for nearly 60 years. At the weekend, up to 30cm (12in) of snow fell in China's capital and its neighbouring port city of Tianjin. Dozens of people have also died in a cold snap in northern India.
However, while parts of the world suffer freezing temperatures, the seesaw patterns mean other areas are warmer than usual, including Alaska, northern Canada and the Mediterranean. Met Office figures for the end of 2009 show some places dropped 10C below the average, while others were 10C above.
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