After freezing rain there is now a lot of snow. The German Weather Service (DWD) is therefore issuing severe weather warnings for several federal states for Thursday: large parts of the country are still affected Bavaria, Hesse, Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinateplus the southern regions in Thuringia and North Rhine-Westphalia. Im Saarland, Baden-Württemberg and southern Bavaria and northern Germany, the situation is now easing somewhat. However, squalls are expected in the Alps, the Bavarian Forest, the Black Forest and the Swabian Alb, as the DWD reports, and continuous rain is forecast in southwest Germany.
Of the Eifel and the Cologne area about that Rothaargebirge As far as Thuringia, the DWD expects “storm-like amounts of fresh snow” of up to 30 centimeters within 24 hours and warns of “significant traffic disruptions and the risk of snow breakage.” This is often because many drivers do not use winter tires. “If wind is added to the snowfall, this often leads to the formation of drifts,” say the experts. This also affects road traffic and, in extreme cases, road traffic comes to a standstill.” The DWD therefore advises: “Make sure that, in addition to a sufficiently filled tank, you have warm clothing and blankets in your car, as well as warm drinks and food.”
In mountainous areas, heavy snowfalls lead to avalanches. If possible, forests should also not be entered. The German Alpine Club warns: “Heavy snowfall can cause branches and treetops to break off. Some of them fall to the ground, some of them are still hanging in the trees.” Forest sections that are difficult to reach with machines may not be able to be completely cleared. “Strong winds can therefore shake loose branches from the tree and fall onto walkers and winter sports enthusiasts passing by,” says the Alpine Club. Forest visitors should exercise extreme caution in areas with heavy snow.
Air traffic
Due to the ongoing risk of slippery roads in Hesse, Frankfurt airport Many flights were also canceled for Thursday. This is shown by a look at the arrival and departure boards on the airport’s website. “Passengers are asked to check their flight status on the airline websites before arriving at the airport and to allow sufficient time for the journey,” the site also said. “If your flight is canceled, please do not come to the airport.”
Due to freezing rain, aircraft take-offs at Germany’s largest airport were temporarily suspended on Wednesday afternoon. Fraport justified this by saying that the machines could no longer be safely de-iced before take-off due to persistent freezing rain. Individual machines have been able to take off again since Wednesday afternoon.
Road traffic
It also remains dangerous on the roads: Because a truck got stuck on the snow-covered road, it was on the highways during the night from Wednesday to Thursday A4, A5 and A7 in East Hesse nothing more. Traffic jams stretched for kilometers and many drivers were stranded on Thursday night.
In addition to road maintenance vehicles, Red Cross support vehicles are on duty to provide drivers with blankets and hot drinks in the cold, a police spokesman said. A precise list of the closed areas is no longer possible due to the large number of operations on Wednesday evening. According to this, several trucks in particular blocked the lanes because they were either no longer able to drive up gradients due to the winter conditions or had sometimes slipped across the road. This makes it all the more difficult to resolve the blockages. Wide gritting vehicles would sometimes no longer be able to get past the trucks. Forces from the technical relief organization and towing services were also called in to push or tow the trucks. However, it is also difficult for them to even get to the places in question because the snow makes it difficult to create rescue routes.
Similar scenes also took place early on Thursday morning A44 near Geseke in North Rhine-Westphalia from: Six people were injured, some of them seriously, when five vehicles collided on the highway, which was slippery with snow and ice. Here, too, the road had to be closed for several hours.
Outlook for Friday
Am Freitag There will be isolated snow showers in the north and northwest as well as in the eastern mountains, otherwise it will remain dry, with sun and clouds alternating. The maximum temperatures are again between zero and four degrees.