Blizzards across central Europe blocked roads and cut off hundreds of villages in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic last week. The army was called out in all three countries over the February 14 weekend to help clear roads and air-drop emergency supplies to snowbound towns. Check with authorities before venturing outside major cities. Heavy snow in the Alps has created great skiing but also avalanche danger. Twelve people have died in avalanches in Switzerland this winter and a massive slide in the French village of Le Tour near Chamonix last week killed nine. Heed warnings of avalanche danger and stay on marked ski trails.
