31 Jan 2019 | 05:45 PM UTC
Germany: Flight disruptions at Cologne airport amid winter storm Jan. 31
Winter storm causes flight and traffic disruptions in North Rhine-Westphalia state January 31; further snowfall expected through February 1
Event
Authorities at Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) halted operations between 09:00 to 11:15 (local time) on Thursday, January 31, as a winter storm brought ice and whiteout conditions across North Rhine-Westphalia state. Officials temporarily closed the main runway at CGN, resulting in 23 flight cancelations as of Thursday evening.
Local reports indicate police recorded 1079 traffic accidents and at least 78 people sustained injuries from Wednesday evening, January 30, through Thursday morning. The cities of Mönchengladbach and Düsseldorf were brought to a standstill during the morning rush hour, while public transportation agencies in several cities warned of significant delays due to adverse weather conditions.
Forecasts indicate more snowfall is expected in North Rhine-Westphalia state through the early morning hours of Friday, February 1, and officials at CGN have stated further flight disruptions are possible in the coming hours.
Advice
Individuals in affected areas are advised to monitor local weather reports, anticipate transportation disruptions (e.g. flight delays and cancelations, icy roads, limited visibility), confirm flight reservations, refrain from unnecessary travel, and keep sufficient food, water, and warm clothing if driving.
