Thousands shiver in Europe's big chill | Reuters

Temperatures sank to record lows in parts of Germany overnight. A weather station in the eastern state of Saxony said the coldest spot was -27.7 degrees Celsius.

Thick snow has covered much of the country and icebreakers were at work on several waterways, including the River Elbe in eastern Germany

Cold weather causes disruptions across Europe : Nature Environment

Berlin - Germany was experiencing Wednesday the coldest weather in more than 20 years, with overnight temperatures dropping below minus 20 degrees centigrade. Near Dresden, in the eastern state of Saxony, Germany's lowest temperature of minus 27.7 degrees centigrade was recorded in the town of Dippiswolde, according to the Meteomedia weather service. In the neighbouring state of Thuringia, temperatures dropped to minus 27.5 in Altenburg, south of Leipzig.

Railway commuters experienced delays across the country, since train tracks and carriages had frozen overnight. Taxi vouchers were issued to passengers on the 40-kilometre railway service between the cities of Leipzig and Halle, which was disrupted by the weather.

On the motorways, icy conditions prevailed and lorries were brought to a halt as diesel fuel froze, causing tailbacks.

In a Berlin suburb, 120,000 residents lost their heat and electricity supply when a burst water pipe flooded cellars, covering roads with water which quickly froze to ice.

Other parts of Europe have also been affected by the cold weather conditions. At 21 degrees below zero, Belgium measured its lowest temperatures in a decade in the town of Ernage, between Brussels and Namur.