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Winter threatens southern Germany

After hitting a balmy 19C in some places on Friday, Bavaria is set to freeze over the weekend, with weathermen warning to expect the first overnight frosts and icy roads of the winter.

Published: 8 November 2013 17:32 CET

Winter threatens southern Germany

The shape of things to come? Photo: DPA

News site merkur-online said temperatures in Munich would drop significantly, hardly leaving single figures for the next few days.

It warned Bavarians that a rainy weekend and freezing temperatures on Sunday night could lead to black ice on roads on Monday morning, when gritting lorries were likely to be out for the first time this winter.

The German Weather Service (DWD) said on Friday that snowfall heights would come down to between 600 and 800 metres on Saturday night, and stay as low as 700 to 1000 metres during Sunday.

The cold weather is expected as cold air currents pulled in by a low-pressure system were due to hit Germany on Friday night.

The low pressure front will bring with it windy, rainy weather and possible storms across the country, but especially in the west, the Weather Service reported.

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More rain forecast as storms hit western Germany

Major storms hit western Germany on Thursday, causing travel disruption and flooding.

In parts of Baden-Württemberg, streets were flooded and rivers swelled. Bisingen, southwest of Tübingen, was particularly hard hit, with cellars and streets plunged under water.

Police said there was also traffic disruption. In Baden-Württemberg’s state capital Stuttgart, severe storms and lightning caused issues and some roads were closed.

A lightning strike in the Sigmaringen area resulted in a broken signal box on the railway line. According to Deutsche Bahn, no train journeys were possible in the region in the early evening with several delays and cancellations.

Other states were also affected.

There were around 300 relief operations in the Ahrweiler district in Rhineland-Palatinate, which was hit by the 2021 deadly flood disaster.

Police said no-on was injured, although basements and streets were flooded. The water levels of the Ahr were being closely monitored.

Emergency services in Bisingen on Thursday.

Emergency services in Bisingen on Thursday. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Silas Stein

In Trier, too, streets were flooded after heavy rain and there were hailstorms. The Koblenz police headquarters reported fallen trees. Significant property damage due to full cellars and flooded streets was also reported in some areas.

Heavy showers also fell in Hesse, accompanied by thunder storms. In Frankfurt, according to the fire department, the heavy rain caused water to enter the Bethanien Hospital and even reach the intensive care unit of the clinic.

“We were able to contain the damage relatively quickly and prevent it from spreading,” said fire department spokesman Thorben Schemmel, adding that no patients were affected.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Eifel region was particularly affected, with reports of flooded streets after heavy rain and hailstorms.

North Rhine-Westphalia also saw storms late in the afternoon on Thursday.

The German Weather Service (DWD) said it expected some heavy rain and hail in parts of the country on Friday – particularly in the west – and at the weekend but warnings of severe weather have been lifted.

The DWD said there could still be one or two strong thunderstorms in the northeast on Friday. However, it will be a significantly quieter day compared to Thursday. Temperatures of up to 25C can be expected.

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