WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- An Arctic chill killed a dozen people in Poland and snarled traffic and halted flights across Europe, freezing ducks in lakes and prompting animal lovers to open their cellars to shivering stray cats, officials said Friday. With the latest deaths in Poland, the total number of people in Europe who have died of exposure in recent days has risen to at least 40. It's "an early start to the winter because we are still in the autumn season," said Omar Baddour, a scientist with the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva."It's not very, very unusual, but it is an extreme winter spell that is going to last a few days." (28 images)
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A lamp covered with frozen snow shines on top of the Feldberg mountain near Frankfurt, central Germany, on a cold Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010. AP / Michael Probst
Children walk through heavy snow on November 30, 2010 in Goole, United Kingdom. Freezing weather conditions and heavy snow are continuing to cause disruptions across the country. Getty Images / Dan Kitwood
Officers from Lancashire Police Force brave the snow to form a guard of honour for Soldiers of The 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment who marched through the streets of Blackburn following a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan on December 1, 2010 in Blackburn, England. The 120 soldiers exercised their right to the freedom of the city by taking part in a thanksgiving service at Blackburn Cathedral and parading through the streets. Getty Images / Christopher Furlong
Robin hunter prepares to take a morning dip in the freezing waters of the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park on November 30, 2010 in London, United Kingdom. Freezing weather conditions and snow that has created chaos in Scotland and Northern England are moving South to the capital. Getty Images / Matthew Lloyd
Traders burn some of their wares as they brave the Arctic weather to attend the Newark International Antique Fair at Nottinghamshire Show Ground on December 2, 2010 inNewark, England. The antique fair is the biggest in Europe and attracts buyers and dealers from across the world. Organisers battled against the weather and kept the show open with snow ploughs and gritters. Getty Images / Christopher Furlong
A girl covers her eyes as she sledges down a hill in the snow in Petworth, south east England as large areas of Britain were brought to a halt as freezing weather tightened its grip Wednesday Dec. 1, 2010. Travelers endured more misery with the wintry weather wrecking air and rail schedules and causing hazardous driving conditions. Edinburgh and Gatwick airports were closed and those trying to reach the continent by rail faced delays on Eurostar services. AP / Chris Ison
Finn James Dennis, 5, lies back on his sled while he's pulled by his 7-year-old sister on his way to school in Hartney Wintney, southern England on December 2, 2010. AFP/ Getty Images / Adrian Dennis
Racehorses train in the snow on the gallops at Middleham Moor northern England Friday Dec. 3, 2010. AP / John Giles
Hoar frost clings to a spider's web around Pickmere Lake in the Cheshire countryside on December 3, 2010 in Knutsford, United Kingdom. After heavy snowfall across the country resulting in severe disruption to Britain's infrastructure the country is now gripped by freezing temperatures. Getty Images / Christopher Furlong
Ice crystals are seen on a pane of glas screen near Heidelberg, southwestern Germany, on December 3, 2010, as northern Europa suffers an unseasonable cold snap, which has lasted nearly a week. AFP/ Getty Images / Daniel Roland
A car driver makes his way on a snowy country road near Sonthofen, southern Germany, Friday , Nov. 26, 2010. AP / Lukas Barth
A tourist walks through snow-covered stelae at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial on December 2, 2010 in Berlin, Germany.Getty Images / Andreas Rentz
A man skiis after heavy snowfall in the Thuringian Forest in Oberhof, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. AP / Jens Meyer
A man cleans the street with a snowblower after heavy snowfall in the Thuringian Forest in Oberhof, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. AP / Jens Meyer
Scholars from Bingen am Rhein enjoy the first snow near the Brandenburg Gate on December 2, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. The German capital was hit with the season's first big snowstorm and temperatures are expected to fall to -20 degrees Celsius around the city in what meteorologists claim is Germany's coldest beginning of December in 100 years.Getty Images / Andreas Rentz
A woman walks past trees on a snow-covered street on December 2, 2010 in Berlin. Heavy snow, which had so far spared the German capital, hit the city overnight with a vengeance. AFP/ Getty Images / Johannes Eisele
A worker de-ices a Tui Fly jet at the airport in the northern German city of Hamburg on December 3, 2010. AFP/ Getty Images / Angelika Warmuth
Snow covers the steps leading to the Chateau de Versaille, as Japanese tourists take pictures in Versailles, west of Paris, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. AP / Michel Euler
A man and his children enjoy the snow on a sled in Lyon, central France, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010. AP / Laurent Cipriani
General view of Le Mont Saint Michel under snow, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. AP / David Vincent
A woman walks with her dog as snow falls in Lyon, central France, Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010. AP / Laurent Cipriani
Vineyards of white grapes are covered in snow in the Lavaux region on the shores of the Lake Geneva, in Aran, Switzerland, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. AP / Laurent Gillieron
A cyclist rides over a bridge on one of the canals in the center of Amsterdam, Thursday Dec. 2, 2010. AP / Peter Dejong
Romanian soldiers are seen on a cold morning while waiting on a bus for the start of ceremonies marking Romania's national day in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010. AP / Vadim Ghirda
People walk along the Moskva river at the outskirts of Moscow on a Thursday afternoon, Dec. 2, 2010 as temperatures plummeted to -23 Celscius ( -9 Fahrenheit). AP / Mikhail Metzel
A man walks past on the road as snow covers the field, in Pyrenees route of Erro, northern Spain, Thursday Dec. 2, 2010. AP / Alvaro Barrientos
A couple walking with their dog at Vuelta Castillo Park as snow covers the field in Pamplona northern Spain, Friday Dec. 3, 2010. AP / Alvaro Barrientos
A woman pull her luggage as she crosses a street as snow cover the city in Pamplona northern Spain, Friday, Dec.3, 2010. AP / Alvaro Barrientos