Arctic cold wave freezes Lapland airports, disrupts travel across northern Europe
Thousands of tourists were stranded in northern Finland on January 11, 2026, after flights at Kittilä Airport were canceled due to extreme cold that made de-icing and fueling operations impossible. Temperatures dropped to −37°C (−34.6°F), one of the lowest readings of the winter season, amid a wider Arctic cold outbreak affecting large parts of northern and central Europe.
Image credit: Finavia
Flight operations at Kittilä Airport in Finnish Lapland were suspended on Sunday, January 11, after temperatures fell to −37°C (−34.6°F), causing severe operational difficulties.
Airport operator Finavia confirmed that prolonged low temperatures had frozen de-icing equipment and hindered refueling systems. The airport, which serves as a main gateway for tourists visiting Lapland’s winter resorts, experienced significant congestion as thousands of passengers were left stranded.
Finavia noted that, in addition to the severe cold, unusually high moisture levels in the air, especially around Kittilä, intensified the effects of frost, making operations increasingly difficult.
The combination of extremely low temperatures and humidity caused connectors, refueling lines, and doors on ground equipment to freeze, posing challenges for apron crews and maintenance teams. Some airlines redirected flights to alternate airports farther south, though ground connections were also affected by the persistent cold.
According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), temperatures across Lapland remained below −30°C (−22°F) for several consecutive days, with forecasts indicating values potentially reaching −40°C (−40°F) early in the week.
In Savukoski, a weather station registered the lowest temperature of the season on January 10, when the mercury fell to −42.8°C (−45°F), surpassing the previous day’s −41.4°C (−42.5°F). Such readings are uncommon even for the region, where average January lows in Kittilä are typically near −15°C (5°F).
The cold conditions are linked to a broad Arctic air mass extending across northern and central Europe. Germany, the Baltic states, and parts of Poland also reported travel disruptions, with train cancellations, power outages, and snow-related accidents.
The FMI described the ongoing pattern as part of a persistent high-pressure system over the Arctic, directing cold continental air into the region.
In Kittilä, Finavia said normal operations would resume once temperatures rise sufficiently for de-icing fluids and mechanical systems to function properly. Meteorologists expect a gradual easing of the cold by mid-week as the high-pressure area weakens.
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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