Members of the Household Cavalry return to their barracks as snow falls in London, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Britain, which is buffered by the Atlantic Ocean and tends to have temperate winters, saw heavy snow in some areas that disrupted road, rail and air travel and forced hundreds of schools to close. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
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LONDON (AP) - Persistent snow and freezing conditions from a Siberian cold snap snarled transit Wednesday and caused a handful of deaths across a swathe of Europe from Britain to the Balkans.
In the U.K., where the weather system has been dubbed "the beast from the east," the weather office issued an alert for Scotland warning that heavy snow and strong wind would bring widespread damage, disruption and risk to life late Wednesday and early Thursday.
"People should ask themselves the question 'is this journey absolutely and utterly essential?' If not, do not travel," Scottish Transport Minister Humza Youssef said.
The weather caused cancelations at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, and Scottish Premiership soccer matches were canceled Wednesday.
Trains were canceled across the north and east of Britain and as far south as London, where several subway lines experienced severe delays, including the Piccadilly Line that links central London to Heathrow Airport.
Emergency officials said many drivers had to be rescued from stranded vehicles. Hundreds of schools were shut for a second day.
The weather also forced hospitals to cancel elective procedures and outpatient care.
France's national weather agency, Meteo France, put a large part of the country on alert for dangerous levels of snow, ice and violent wind. Urging people to limit their movement, Meteo France said snowfall would continue until Friday.
Several deaths were attributed to the cold snap, including a 75-year-old man who fell through ice in the Netherlands, likely while skating.
A 38-year old man was found dead on a frozen river in northern Germany amid continuing subzero temperatures across the country, according to German news agency dpa.
In Denmark, a 54-year-old man who suffered from dementia was found dead in the snow on the Baltic Sea island of Bornholm, police said.
In southern Serbia, another man suffering from dementia was found frozen to death Wednesday after he disappeared from his home two days ago.
An elderly man died of cold when he went out to collect wood near Maribor in Slovenia, authorities there said. Temperatures in the country fell as low as -27 C (-16.6 F).
Snowfall of up to 1.1 meters (3.6 feet) blanketed all of Albania, including a rare accumulation in the capital, Tirana. Many schools in the countryside did not have classes on Wednesday.
Snow has blocked many roads and damaged power pylons across Albania, leading to power cuts in many rural areas.
In Kosovo, the Education Ministry closed all elementary and high schools Wednesday due to the extreme. Temperatures were expected to drop as low as minus 23 Celsius (minus 9.4 Fahrenheit).
Freezing weather also limited traffic and closed down schools in Croatia, with snow falling even along the Adriatic coast.
The cold snap saw a snowman built in Venice's St. Mark's Square, while snow delayed Formula One testing at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona on Wednesday.
A woman protects herself as the snow falls, in Pamplona northern Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Authorities predicted heavy snowfall and extreme low temperatures across Northern Spain. (AP Photo / Alvaro Barrientos)
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An unidentified swimmer braves the cold as he walks on the snow covered Biarritz beach, southwestern France, after enjoying a bath in the Atlantic ocean, Wednesday, Feb.28, 2018. Much of Europe has been hit with a spell of wintry weather that brought snow, freezing temperatures and heavy winds. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
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A teenager smiles as the snow covers her face, in Pamplona northern Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Authorities predicted heavy snowfall and extreme low temperatures across Northern Spain. (AP Photo / Alvaro Barrientos)
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Mute swans gather near the shore of the Pond in Kensington Gardens after overnight snow falls in London, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Britain, which is buffered by the Atlantic Ocean and tends to have temperate winters, saw heavy snow in some areas that disrupted road, rail and air travel and forced hundreds of schools to close. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
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Fabio Fodaro rides his bike in snowfall at Helix Park in Falkirk, Scotland, Wednesday Feb. 28, 2018. Britain, which is buffered by the Atlantic Ocean and tends to have temperate winters, saw heavy snow in some areas that disrupted road, rail and air travel and forced hundreds of schools to close. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)
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Ice hangs off of a fountain of a world globe in Kontich, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Temperatures in the region stayed under the freezing mark on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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A man taking pictures of an ice-covered bench, on the frozen shores of the Lake of Neuchatel, in Gorgier, Switzerland, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. A cold spell has reached central and eastern Europe with temperatures far below the freezing point. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)
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Peoples walk on the frozen shores of the Lake of Neuchatel, in Gorgier, Switzerland, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. A cold spell has reached central and eastern Europe with temperatures far below zero. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)
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People walk in a snow-coated St. Mark's Square, in Venice, northern Italy, after a snowfall, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. An extreme Siberian cold snap is sweeping across Europe, including parts of southern Italy. (Riccardo Gregolin/ANSA via AP)
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Ice covers the pier at the harbor of Constance at lake Constance, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 28. 2018. An extreme Siberian cold snap sweeping across Europe is claiming lives in Poland and Romania, but also dusted the ancient ruins of Pompeii with snow Tuesday and prompted Amsterdam authorities to prepare the city's iconic canals for ice-skaters. (Steffen Schmidt/dpa via AP)
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People walk through Plaza del Castillo square covered with snow, in Pamplona northern Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Authorities predicted heavy snowfall and extreme low temperatures across Northern Spain. (AP Photo / Alvaro Barrientos)
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Cars stop at a traffic lights in front of a pile of snow removed from the road, in central Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Much of Europe has been hit with a spell of wintry weather that brought snow, freezing temperatures and heavy winds. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
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Ice covers the pier at the harbor of Constance at lake Constance, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 28. 2018. An extreme Siberian cold snap sweeping across Europe is claiming lives in Poland and Romania, but also dusted the ancient ruins of Pompeii with snow Tuesday and prompted Amsterdam authorities to prepare the city's iconic canals for ice-skaters. (Steffen Schmidt/dpa via AP)
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A tourist takes a selfie next to a snowman in St. Mark's Square, in Venice, northern Italy, after a snowfall, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. An extreme Siberian cold snap is sweeping across Europe, including parts of southern Italy. (Riccardo Gregolin/ANSA via AP)
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Icicles hang on a branch on the shore of Lake Alpnachersee in Alpnach, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. An extreme Siberian cold snap sweeping across Europe is claiming lives in Poland and Romania, but also dusted the ancient ruins of Pompeii with snow Tuesday and prompted Amsterdam authorities to prepare the city's iconic canals for ice-skaters. (Urs Flueeler/Keystone via AP)
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Barges on the river Barrow as snow falls in Athy, Co Kildare, Ireland, Wednesday Feb. 28, 2018. Britain, which is buffered by the Atlantic Ocean and tends to have temperate winters, saw heavy snow in some areas that disrupted road, rail and air travel and forced hundreds of schools to close. (Niall Carson/PA via AP)
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A nelectronic board warns "snow to Spain and Bordeaux" as a car drives on the highway near Bayonne, southwestern France, Wednesday, Feb.28, 2018. An extreme Siberian cold snap sweeping across Europe is claiming lives in Poland and Romania. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
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A person walks through a tree lined pathway in Hyde Park after overnight snow falls in London, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Britain, which is buffered by the Atlantic Ocean and tends to have temperate winters, saw heavy snow in some areas that disrupted road, rail and air travel and forced hundreds of schools to close. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
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Snow on Tynemouth beach, north east England, Wednesday Feb. 28, 2018. Britain, which is buffered by the Atlantic Ocean and tends to have temperate winters, saw heavy snow in some areas that disrupted road, rail and air travel and forced hundreds of schools to close. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
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Trucks are stuck after heavy snow on the motorway in Briscous, near Bayonne, southwestern France, Wednesday, Feb.28, 2018. An extreme Siberian cold snap sweeping across Europe is claiming lives in Poland and Romania. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
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A couple walk their dog through the snow and past the bandstand in Southwark Park in south London, Wednesday Feb. 28. 2018. Heavy snow in parts of Britain is causing disruptions to road, rail and air travel and has forced hundreds of schools across the country to close. (AP Photo/Tony Hicks)
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Icicles hang on a branch on the shore of Lake Alpnachersee in Alpnach, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. An extreme Siberian cold snap sweeping across Europe is claiming lives in Poland and Romania, but also dusted the ancient ruins of Pompeii with snow Tuesday and prompted Amsterdam authorities to prepare the city's iconic canals for ice-skaters. (Urs Flueeler/Keystone via AP)
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People walk through Plaza del Castillo square covered with snow, in Pamplona northern Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Authorities predicted heavy snowfall and extreme low temperatures across Northern Spain. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
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People walk through the Plaza del Castillo square covered with snow, in Pamplona northern Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Authorities predicted heavy snowfall and extreme low temperatures across Northern Spain. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
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Victor the polar bear plays in the snow at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, north England, Wednesday Feb. 28, 2018. Britain, which is buffered by the Atlantic Ocean and tends to have temperate winters, saw heavy snow in some areas that disrupted road, rail and air travel and forced hundreds of schools to close. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
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Cars drive through the snow and wind on the outskirts of Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Daily temperatures dropped to -13 C ( -8,6 F) in Belarus. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
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