Thousands of tourists stranded in northern Finland as deep freeze halts flights

HELSINKI (AP) — Thousands of tourists were stranded in northern Finland on Sunday after flights at Kittilä airport were canceled due to severe cold.

The temperature at the airport dropped to minus 37 degrees Celsius (minus 34.6 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday morning, after several days of similar frigid weather, making de-icing of aircraft and other operations difficult, Finland's national public broadcaster Yle reported.

The deep freeze is expected to continue in Kittilä, which is located in Finnish Lapland in the sparsely populated north, on Monday, when the Finnish Meteorological Institute predicts temperatures of almost minus 40 C (minus 40 F).

Finns are generally used to frosty winter temperatures but this year's cold, which has affected wide regions of northern, central and eastern Europe, is more severe than in other years.

Heavy snowfall, high winds and icy roads have made travel difficult in parts of Europe.

In Germany, train passengers were still experiencing long delays and cancellations Sunday after rail operator Deutsche Bahn shut down all service in the north of the country on Friday due to strong snowfall.

Authorities announced that all schools would remain closed and switch to online classes on Monday in North Rhine-Westphalia, the country's most populous western state, after forecasts of icy roads across the region.

In the Baltic countries of Estonia and Lithuania, drivers were asked to postpone all nonessential travel because of expected blizzards, while neighboring Latvia issued a snow alert for the west of the country.

This story corrects the Fahrenheit conversion.

People ski and sled on a hill with the last call ski lift in Oberreifenberg in the Taunus region near Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

A NordWestBahn train stands on a track at the main station in freezing temperatures, in Oldenburg, Germany, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Hauke-Christian Dittrich/dpa via AP)

A person walks past a digital display showing a temperature of minus 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) in Ylläs, Finland, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Satu Renko/Lehtikuva via AP)

Athletes ski despite the severe frost at the Puijo Ski Stadium in Kuopio, Finland, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Matias Honkamaa/Lehtikuva via AP)

People walk in freezing temperatures in Ylläs, Finland, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Satu Renko/Lehtikuva via AP)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat trick as Arsenal advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-1 win at Portsmouth on Sunday.

The Premier League leader came back from going a goal down to the second tier Championship team inside three minutes.

Colby Bishop stunned Arsenal with the opening goal at Fratton Park, but the lead only lasted five minutes when Andre Dozzell scored an own goal. Martinelli put the visitors ahead in the 25th and struck twice in the second half.

Leeds was also behind to Championship opposition, but recovered from 1-0 down to beat Derby 3-1 at Pride Park.

Third-tier Mansfield pulled off an upset to beat Championship side Sheffield United 4-3 and Norwich routed Walsall 5-1.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Leeds United's James Justin scores their side's third goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup third round match between Derby County and Leeds United, in Derby, England, Sunday Jan. 11, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Leeds United's Ao Tanaka, right, celebrates with Wilfried Gnonto after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup third round match between Derby County and Leeds United, in Derby, England, Sunday Jan. 11, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Arsenal players celebrate after a goal during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Portsmouth and Arsenal in Portsmouth, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)