Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

WEATHER

IN PHOTOS: Germany hit by sudden snowstorms and temperatures as low as -10C

Following a mild first half of January, snowstorms came to the Bundesrepublik this week, leading to slippery roads, but also better conditions for winter sports enthusiasts.

Published: 19 January 2023 16:28 CET
A school bus crashed into a street in Herdecke, North Rhine-Westphalia
On Thursday morning a school bus crashed into a street in Herdecke, North Rhine-Westphalia. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Alex Talash

Following a mild first half of January, Germany saw a chilly turn this week, with the mercury dipping into the negatives around the country.

The temperatures, which dipped as low as -10C in mountainous areas and -4C at sea level, led to traffic jams and a few accidents around the country. But it also caused ski resorts to reopen their lifts, and people to bundle up and head outdoors into the white January.

READ ALSO: Winter weather to hit Germany with up to 10 centimetres of snow forecast

Here’s a look at some photos from around Germany on Thursday.

Emergency personnel stand on a slope where a semi-truck has slid into a car in Kierspe, North Rhine-Westphalia.

Emergency personnel stand on a slope where a semi-truck has slid into a car in Kierspe, North Rhine-Westphalia. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Markus Klümper
 
On Thursday morning a school bus crashed into a street in Herdecke, North Rhine-Westphalia.

On Thursday morning a school bus crashed into a street in Herdecke, North Rhine-Westphalia. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Alex Talash

Many winter sports resorts, such as those in the Harz Mountains, prepared to restart the winter ski season. Several slopes around the country had closed as temperatures rose to springlike levels of 17C and higher at the start of January.

A snow cannon is in operation next to the Hexenritt chairlift on the Wurmberg in the Harz Mountains.

A snow cannon is in operation next to the Hexenritt chairlift on the Wurmberg in the Harz Mountains. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Swen Pförtner
 
In Germany, there’s an old adage that “there’s no such thing as the wrong weather, just wrong clothing”. Many people put on their down jackets and shoes with good tractor and headed outside.
 
 
A woman walks through the snow-covered park at Moritzburg Castle, the former hunting lodge of the Wettin dynasty in Saxony.

A woman walks through the snow-covered park at Moritzburg Castle, the former hunting lodge of the Wettin dynasty in Saxony. picture alliance/dpa | Robert Michael
 

A woman jogged Thursday along the Maschsee in Hanover. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Julian Stratenschulte

Not all animals seemed to mind the cold either, as evidenced by a few happy felines spotted scampering around in the snow.

Snow and raindrops fall on the fur of the cat Leo in Eppstein, Hesse on Thursday.

Snow and raindrops fall on the fur of the cat Leo in Eppstein, Hesse on Thursday. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Sebastian Gollnow
 
 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

WEATHER

Severe weather warnings issued as Germany braces for more storms

Extreme weather warnings for heavy rainfall remain in place in parts of Germany on Friday following flooding in the south. There is also a chance of thunderstorms at the weekend.

Published: 17 May 2024 10:37 CEST
Severe weather warnings issued as Germany braces for more storms

Severe weather is expected in the southwest of the country on Friday, with the heaviest rain expected in Saarbrücken, as well as the surrounding areas of Saarland and southern Rhineland-Palatinate.

In these areas Germany’s weather service (DWD) has level 4 warnings in place – meaning that the rain is expected to be extremely heavy (more than 40 litres per square metre in an hour, or 60 litres per square metre in 6 hours).

Slightly less severe, but still heavy continuous rain can also be expected in the surrounding regions, extending as far as Stuttgart and Mainz.

Speaking to Bild newspaper, Climatologist Dr. Karsten Brandt suggested that the heavy precipitation and thunderstorms will continue to move northwest, even into southern North-Rhine Westphalia (Aachen).

There are also wind warnings in parts of the country, with squalls expected on the Brocken and the Fichtelberg mountains, as well as in the Black Forest and in the Alps.

Currently, the highest wind warnings are in Dresden and southern Bavaria near the Alps.

Friday’s weather warnings come in the wake of chaotic weather that flooded Nuremberg and parts of Bavaria Thursday night, where many roads flooded. Cars were submerged in water and bus routes were cancelled.

A number of household cellars also flooded as well as a large underground car park at the Technical University.

READ ALSO: Record heat deaths and floods – How Germany is being hit by climate change

What will the weekend bring?

Beyond the area of severe weather warnings but not beyond the reach of the storm, Cologne will have some rain on Friday which may continue on through the weekend.

Germany’s northern and eastern regions have dodged the recent bout of storms so far, but in Berlin scattered thunderstorms can be expected to move in by Sunday afternoon. This may put a dampener on the Karneval der Kulturen parade. 

In Bremen and Hamburg, residents can expect some rain showers on Sunday and Monday, with a chance of thunderstorms as well.

In Munich and Nuremberg, it looks as if the worst is over. Some small showers may continue into Saturday, but Bavarian residents can look forward to a sunny Sunday ahead of the public holiday on Monday for Pentecost. 

READ ALSO:

SHOW COMMENTS