Parts of Europe are facing chaotic travel conditions as temperatures across the region plunged below zero amid heavy snowfalls, blocked roads, dozens of accidents and the worst coastal storms in a decade, informs SBS.

Germany and Scandinavia

A 20-year-old man died and his passenger was severely injured after he lost control of his vehicle on an icy road in western Germany.

Two lorries collided on a snow-covered highway in the southern part of the country resulting in damage costing about 500,000 euro.

Meanwhile, in northern Sweden, about 100 rail passengers were stranded overnight after a train engine broke down near the small northern village of Nattavaara, 50km south of Gallivare. Passengers told local newspaper NSD that they huddled together to keep warm before villagers took them to the local parish hall and also opened a little convenience store.

The dramatic weather conditions resulted in some Baltic Sea ferry services being cancelled with temperatures in parts of Scandinavia plunging to colder than minus 40C.

Germany's Maritime and Hydrography Agency said water levels along the Baltic Sea coast in the country's northeast rose late on Wednesday to between 1.5 and 1.7 metres above their normal levels before dropping to around 1 metre above average by early Thursday. bla

Wind speeds of up to 123 kilometres per hour and temperatures as low as minus 20C have been recorded by the German Weather Service.

The Bavarian authorities raised the avalanche warning to a high danger level after heavy snowfalls carpeted the southern German state.

Europe's meteorological authorities say the storm is now moving across the Baltic towards Belarus.

Still, stormy weather was also predicted for eastern and southern Germany, with snow and sleet expected on Thursday, according to SBS.

Romania

In Romania, one of the worst affected areas, authorities said main highways in the south and east were made impassable due to the heavy snow. More than 40 trains were not running due to snow on the track.

Senior emergency situations official Raed Arafat said authorities evacuated 622 people who needed dialysis and 126 pregnant women. bla

Flights were delayed by up to an hour at Bucharest's Henri Coanda airport due to the blizzard, which began overnight, informs Daily Mail.

Czech Republic

The entire Czech Republic is reportedly covered with up to half a metre of snow and counting. The country is on an orange alert until at least Thursday evening, meaning snow drifts and severe blizzards are expected. Power lines were brought down in several regions.

Transport has become treacherous with several roads and train lines closed. Freight lorries are also stuck in hilly areas especially in East Bohemia. 

Hungary

Parts of northern Hungary have been put on a yellow alert and the river Tsza froze after the sudden drop in temperature.

Poland

In Poland, fierce winds downed power lines leaving 16000 households without electricity. Forecasters warned that as much as half a metre of snow may fall in areas close to mountains and that arctic air could plunge temperatures to as low as -17 degrees celsius. bla

Transport has been disrupted in several regions of Poland, informs Euronews.

Serbia

Serbia's state television reported that 17 people, including six children, were injured in a pileup caused by the wintry weather on the outskirts of the southern city of Nis.

Heavy snow and strong winds disrupted traffic in southern Serbia and snow piled up to two-meters high, closing several roads. Local official Dragan Dimitrijevic said emergency crews were "helpless against the wind."

Croatia

In Croatia, the temperatures dipped below freezing even along the country's Adriatic coast where high winds halted some ferry traffic to the islands and over the bridges along the coastline.

Montenegro 

In Montenegro, bad weather caused traffic delays and authorities urged people to stay indoors. Villages were virtually cut off in the worst-hit northern part of the country.