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WEATHER

Fresh snowfall expected in parts of Germany

Winter is making a late "guest appearance" in Germany with forecasters predicting further snow overnight in some parts of the country.

Published: 20 April 2024 16:07 CEST
A woman walks with a dog after major snowfall in a park in Frankfurt am Main,
A woman walks with a dog after major snowfall in a park in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, in January 2024. Forecasters are predicting snow overnight in some parts of the country on Saturday. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP)

After heavy snowfall overnight on Friday in the Thuringian Forest and the western Ore Mountains, fresh snow is expected in other parts of the country on Saturday night.

An area of low pressure over Poland is currently bringing cold air to Germany and up to 20 centimetres of snow is predicted in the night from Saturday to Sunday for some areas, German news website Tageschau reported, citing the German Weather Service (DWD).

Meteorologists are forecasting heavy snowfall especially from the Sauerland region and northern Hesse up to the Thuringian Forest.

A thin blanket of snow could form at low altitudes, while at levels of 400 to 600 metres above sea level, as much as 15 centimetres of fresh snow could fall. 

Sunday will see sleet, especially in southern Germany, with heavy snowfall forecast for the evening in the Alps and its foothills.

“Winter is making another late guest appearance,” DWD meteorologist Christian Herold said.

Temperatures are set to remain unseasonably cold in the coming week, too, DWD said.

The weather may warm up gradually towards the end of the month, but there are currently no signs of stable sunny, warmer weather, the forecaster said.

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WEATHER

More rain forecast as storms hit western Germany

Severe storms and heavy rain affected parts of Germany on Thursday, creating disruptions. More rain is forecast on Friday but weather warnings have been lifted.

Published: 3 May 2024 09:53 CEST
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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