London:
Heavy overnight snowfall grounded about 450 flights and caused major delays at German airports on Friday and left highways clogged with traffic after scores of accidents that killed at least two people and injured dozens.
Roads were clogged by snow and in North-Rhine Westphalia state alone, authorities reported traffic jams of more than 185 kilometres (115 miles) and 251 weather-related accidents that left 19 people injured.
Officials in the southern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg said there were 108 weather-related accidents that left 17 people injured.
Two men died in a traffic accident in the southern state of Bavaria, according to authorities.
The men, 54 and 44 years old, were trying to help a friend to pull his car out of the snow near Straubing late on Thursday when they were struck by an oncoming car, police said in a statement.
A wave of snow and icy weather was also causing travel problems across the United Kingdom, with trains cancelled, schools shut and cars sliding on icy roads.
Belfast International Airport was closed Friday morning because of snow, and there were delays and cancellations at other airports including Aberdeen, Birmingham and Luton.
In Scotland, Aberdeen airport had experienced flight disruptions due to severe weather conditions.
Many flights were cancelled or delayed as the country prepared for more adverse weather.
Local authorities had issued a severe weather warning throughout Scotland while temperatures stayed around zero on Friday.