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WEATHER

Stormy weather to keep volcanic ash at bay

The cool and rainy weather this week might be a lousy start to May, but it does have the advantage of keeping German skies free from the volcanic ash currently crippling Irish air traffic.

Published: 4 May 2010 12:16 CEST
Stormy weather to keep volcanic ash at bay
Photo: DPA

Andreas Friedrich, a meteorologist for the German Weather Service (DWD), said on Tuesday that the low pressure system “Ulrike” was likely to keep more ash spewing from a volcano in Iceland from impacting flights in German airspace. Airports in Ireland and parts of Scotland temporarily closed down on Monday evening amid renewed safety concerns that grounded air travel across Europe last month.

Friedrich said “Ulrike” will keep German skies safe until at least the weekend, but it will also bring plenty of rain from the Mediterranean.

Tuesday will remain cloudy and cool across most of Germany, with showers expected in the south in the evening. Temperatures will reach only nine degrees Celsius on the coast, with brisk wind expected. The rest of the country will see highs of 10 to 15 degrees.

Overnight there could even be frost as temps drop to zero to four degrees. Meanwhile the south will have lows of three to seven degrees.

On Wednesday, the north will see some sunshine and remain mostly dry. But the southern regions will experience showers and the Alps could see scattered thunder storms. Temperatures will range between 11 and 15 degrees, though the coast will remain cooler and windy around 10 degrees. Higher altitudes in the Black Forest and the Alps might also experience gusty winds.

The rain will continue in the south on Thursday, but the northwestern part of the country is expected to remain dry. Highs will hit 11 to 16 degrees and the overnight lows won’t be quite so frosty at three to nine degrees.

The DWD said the weekend could see the return of temperatures more typical for May, with highs edging towards the 20-degree mark.

Click here for The Local’s weather forecast.

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WEATHER

Winter weather returns to Germany after spring heat spell

Temperatures in Germany almost hit 30C in the last few weeks. But winter-like weather is well and truly back - and ski slopes are even re-opening in some areas.

Published: 19 April 2024 12:42 CEST
Winter weather returns to Germany after spring heat spell

Many people in Germany will have already packed away their winter clothes as spring has seen high temperatures and lots of sun.

But a cosy hoody and jacket will be needed again.

According to the German Weather Service (DWD), a blast of polar air has been moving in bringing ice, rain and sleet that is turning to snow, particularly at higher altitudes. 

Those who want to take advantage of the winter weather can even get back on the slopes. Many ski resorts had to close early for the season – but a few are reopening. 

On Friday, the ski lift at Kandel in the Emmendingen district (Baden-Württemberg) opens for floodlit skiing from 6pm. to 10pm. If the snow remains, the lifts will also operate at the weekend from 9am to 5pm.

Meanwhile, the lift at Seebuck (Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district) is operating on Saturday from 1pm to 5pm.

‘Aprilschmuddelwetter’

Lower-lying spots have also seen hailstones and snow showers. People in Munich dealt with a flurry of snow on Thursday as temperatures fell. High temperatures ranged from 4C in Oberallgäu to 12C in Lower Franconia.

In a post on X, the DWD described it as Aprilschmuddelwetter – Schmuddelwetter translates to “mucky” or “foul weather” and is often used in Germany in spring when there’s lots of rain.

The DWD said: “April foul weather on Friday: Widespread rain, snow in high mountain areas. In the afternoon, partly heavy sleet showers from the north-west, isolated thunderstorms. In addition, stormy winds in places. Temperatures will barely reach double figures.”

The DWD shared a photo with tulips poking out from the snow in Neuhaus am Rennweg in Thuringia and said it was symbolic of the current weather situation.

The low pressure system moving in from the North Sea was bringing more widespread rain, thunderstorms and hail on Friday. 

In Berlin temperatures hovered around 7C on Friday during the day with continuous rain. It was around 5C in Erfurt and 8C in Kiel. 

In western Germany, it was slightly less cool with temperatures reaching 10C – but torrential rain was forecast. 

Changeable weather with showers was forecast on Saturday, while some sunshine in the north and east of Germany was expected on Sunday. 

At night, there is a risk of frost, ice and freezing rain in the coming days in spots where the temperature drops.

This comes after a series of storms and strong winds lashed the country earlier this week.

READ ALSO: Storms and high winds hit Germany

Just a few days before that, Germany was bathed in sunshine as temperatures climbed up to nearly 30C.

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