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Extreme Cold Strands Tourists in Finland, Disrupts Travel Across Europe

1/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Thousands of tourists are stranded in Finland's Lapland as flights are grounded at Kittilä airport due to extreme cold, with -37°C recorded on Sunday.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute forecasts temperatures near -40°C for Monday.
This extreme cold follows several days of frigid weather across northern, central, and eastern Europe.
In Germany, heavy snowfall and ice have disrupted travel, causing train shutdowns and school closures in North Rhine-Westphalia.

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Story summary

Thousands of tourists are stranded in Finland's Lapland as flights are grounded at Kittilä airport due to extreme cold, with -37°C recorded on Sunday.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute forecasts temperatures near -40°C for Monday.
This extreme cold follows several days of frigid weather across northern, central, and eastern Europe.
In Germany, heavy snowfall and ice have disrupted travel, causing train shutdowns and school closures in North Rhine-Westphalia.