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FRANKFURT

Snowfall blankets mountains

The dry November weather in Germany is quickly becoming a distant memory, as the first snowfall of winter settles in the mountains. Elsewhere across the country, considerable rain and strong winds have been forecast.

Snowfall blankets mountains
Photo:DPA

Overnight Sunday, a low pressure system coming from the British Isles dropped 17 centimetres of snow Saxony’s Ore Mountains and 10 centimetres on the Brocken, northern Germany’s highest mountain, according to the German Weather Service (DWD).

For now, however, the snowline rests firmly between 400 and 600 metres above sea level. Unfortunately this means that clouds bringing snow to higher regions will cause considerable rainfall everywhere else over this week.

“A cold current of polar air is causing snow to fall in central areas of Germany,” said DWD meteorologist Marcus Beyer in a statement. “In areas higher than 400 metres above sea level, a blanket of snow should be settling.”

More snow is predicted to fall in the mountains on Monday night, with thundery rain showers scattered nationwide elsewhere. In the south, however, the snowline will drop to between 200 and 400 metres, however, bringing potential sleety snow.

Temperatures will dip to between three degrees Celsius and two degrees below zero. In mountainous areas it may get as cold as -4. Sub-zero temperatures will be accompanied by strong winds.

Moving to Tuesday, the widespread rainfall will not have eased, and in areas higher than 400 metres this rain will fall as snow. There may be, however, brief patches of sunshine in parts.

Click here for The Local’s weather forecast

In the very north of the country, freezing rain and sleet are forecast, but according to Beyer this “should not last too long.” Temperatures will rise slightly elsewhere though to highs between three and eight degrees Celsius.

In mountainous areas, however, the forecast is much more wintry with gales and relentless freezing temperatures continuing.

By Tuesday night, thick clouds will cover most of the country, with heavy rain falling in central areas. Yet more snow will fall overnight in higher regions.

Rain will continue into Wednesday, particularly across the east, while showers and thunder storms will be scattered nationwide. Conditions in hilly regions will remain unpleasantly windy with temperatures down to -3 Celsius.

The Local/jcw

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