The birds apparently lost their way amidst the impenetrable mist. Confused and disorientated, they landed in droves on the roads and motorways around Berlin, according to reports in Die Welt.

Large numbers of them were subsequently run over and killed, and motorists are still being advised to drive especially cautiously on Friday.

In Saxony-Anhalt, around 80 vehicles were involved in a large motorway pile-up on the road between Querfurt and Eisleben, where poor visibility and slippery roads meant that drivers skidded out of control on the treacherous ice.

Many collided, others hit the crash barriers. One man was killed, and around 40 injured.

Click here for The Local’s weather forecast

The fog and mist hit the country on Thursday morning, and has been thickening since then – meaning that drivers should remain vigilant.

By Friday the fog is expected to be overwhelming in large parts of the country, and the temperature will remain at a nippy 0 to 5 degrees.

Only the Alpine areas are likely to see some sun, as a southern wind could blow away some of the dense cloud coverage over the course of the day. These fortunate regions could see temperatures climb as high as 14 degrees.

And the fog is likely to descend again on Friday night, and is not set to clear on Saturday. The day will be misty and dull, and with thick clouds hanging over the country, the sun will have little chance of penetrating.

Northern areas could see a little dissipation, but the respite will be brief, as these areas should be engulfed by nightfall too. With temperatures still hovering around zero, it’s also going to remain chilly.

Light drizzle could set in by Sunday morning, especially in the north-west and west. In less densely foggy areas, temperatures will drop back down to minus five degrees. Elsewhere it is likely to remain dull and grey, with minimal sun.

By Sunday night the weather may have softened a little, with the hard temperatures and extreme fog giving way to a brighter spells in parts of the south and east – though elsewhere will remain murky and bleak.

The Local/pmw