Thousands of tourists have been stranded in Finland's Lapland as a severe cold spell has grounded flights out of one of its airports.
Departures from Lapland's Kittila airport that would have ferried winter travelers back to places like London, Bristol, Manchester, Paris, and Amsterdam were all canceled on Sunday as temperatures did not exceed -35°C.
The issue is expected to persist on Monday, with a forecasted low of -39°C. The first flight out of Kittila has already been canceled.
The extreme cold complicates the de-icing of planes and causes maintenance and refueling equipment on the ground to freeze.
Airport operator Finavia informed public broadcaster Yle that moisture in the air is worsening the situation by creating slippery frost.
While Lapland is notorious for its cold and snow, Finnish Lapland typically sees winter average temperatures around -14°C, occasionally dipping to -30°C, according to the nation's tourism board.
Kittila airport mainly serves those wishing to visit nearby ski resorts and view the Northern Lights, whereas Rovaniemi airport is recognized as the gateway to Santa Claus's folkloric home.
The first local flight scheduled to arrive at Kittila was canceled, with international flights further delayed.
Additionally, icy conditions have made the roads hazardous, prompting Fintraffic to issue warnings in the region. A bus carrying Ukrainian passengers drove into a ditch on Sunday morning, though there were no serious injuries reported.
This unusual cold in Lapland coincides with a storm passing over Northern Europe, causing travel disruptions in the UK, France, and Germany.
Tragically, a man lost his life after a tree fell on his caravan in England, while around 100,000 homes in France were without power due to the storm.
