Storm Leonardo is wreaking havoc across Europe, with Berlin Airport grounding dozens of flights due to treacherous black ice on runways, while southern Spain and Portugal battle catastrophic flooding that has forced thousands from their homes. The UK, meanwhile, faces an unrelenting deluge with weather warnings in place and no sign of respite.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport Flight Disruptions
Germany is grappling with a severe winter weather front, characterised by freezing rain that transforms into hazardous black ice upon contact with the ground. This has prompted significant operational challenges at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, where a wave of cancellations began yesterday evening and continued into this morning.
The airport authority has issued advisories warning passengers of potential delays and cancellations across air traffic. Travellers are strongly urged to verify their flight status directly with their airline before heading to the terminal.
Specific Flight Cancellations
Several key departures from Berlin have been axed today. According to flight tracking data, affected services include:
- British Airways flights to London
- easyJet services to London
- Ryanair flight FR2961 to Birmingham scheduled for 10:15am
- Ryanair flight to Edinburgh at 10:55am
- British Airways flight to London at 11:45am
Passenger Rights During Cancellations
For travellers impacted by these disruptions, understanding your entitlements is crucial. Under regulations enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority, airlines based in the UK and EU are obligated to provide care for passengers facing delays or cancellations.
This support typically encompasses:
- Meals and refreshments during the wait
- Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary
- Arrangements for alternative travel, including re-routing or a return flight
- Access to communication methods, such as phone calls and emails
It is important to retain all receipts for any reasonable expenses incurred, as these can often be reclaimed from the airline later. However, carriers are not liable for extravagant costs, such as luxury hotel suites or minibar charges.
In cases of outright cancellation, passengers generally have the right to choose between a full refund, re-routing, or a return flight. These rules typically remain applicable even during adverse weather events, though airlines may be exempt in truly extraordinary circumstances, like volcanic eruptions.
Severe Flooding in Spain and Portugal
While northern Europe contends with ice, the Iberian Peninsula is submerged under relentless rainfall from Storm Leo. Southern Spain has borne the brunt, with some regions recording an astonishing 23 inches of rain within a single 24-hour period—equivalent to an entire year's average precipitation in mountainous areas.
The consequences have been dire:
- Nearly 4,000 residents in Andalusia have been evacuated from their homes
- Widespread power outages have been reported across affected zones
- The region was placed under a rare red alert due to torrential rain, flooding, and high landslide risk
- Thousands of soldiers have been mobilised to assist with emergency evacuations
In Portugal, the situation is equally grave. A man in his sixties tragically lost his life after his vehicle was engulfed by floodwaters. This latest storm compounds the devastation left by Storm Kristin just last week, which claimed at least six lives.
A separate, heart-wrenching incident in Spain's Malaga province saw a 40-year-old woman, identified locally as Carolina, go missing on Wednesday evening. She was attempting to rescue her dog from the swollen Turvilla river in the village of Sayalonga. While her dog was later found, extensive search and rescue operations along the river have so far failed to locate her.
Meteorological forecasts offer little comfort, with Storm Marta expected to bring further wet weather to the Iberian Peninsula over the coming weekend.
UK Weather Outlook: Persistent Rain Continues
Although the UK has avoided the extreme conditions seen on the continent, it has endured its own prolonged spell of wet weather. Grey skies and consistent rainfall have become the norm over recent weeks, with the Met Office indicating that this pattern is set to continue.
The forecaster has issued yellow weather warnings for rain across several regions, including:
- The South East of England
- The South West
- West Midlands and Wales (until 9pm)
- Northern Ireland (until midnight)
Met Office operational meteorologist Dan Stroud provided a sobering assessment, stating, "Unfortunately, there's no end in sight." He explained that a persistent area of high pressure to the north and east is blocking low-pressure systems, while the jet stream positioned far to the south is channeling exceptional rainfall towards Spain and Portugal.
For those in the UK hoping for drier conditions, the forecast suggests patience will be required, as the unsettled weather shows no immediate signs of abating.
