LONDON — Blizzards and freezing temperatures shut down runways, train tracks and highways across Europe on Saturday, disrupting flights and leaving shivering drivers stranded on roadsides.

Airports in Britain, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark reported cancelations or delays to flights.

London’s Gatwick airport closed its runway — despite the efforts of 150 staff using 47 snow plows, while British Airways suspended all flights from Heathrow.

Hundreds of motorists were left stranded on the major M6 route in northwestern England following a deluge, prompting police patrols to offer food and water to drivers.

In Italy, the Autostrada of the Sun — the country’s main north-south highway — was jammed with hundreds of vehicles, whose chilly occupants slept in their cars, vans or trucks. Though snow had mainly cleared or melted early Saturday, the highway was still closed in one direction, with traffic backed up for nearly 25 miles.