Black ice alarm after "freezing rain": traffic chaos in Germany - DWD warns urgently

Created: 12/19/2022, 5:50 am

By: Victoria Krumbeck

Ice Age in Germany!

Freezing rain will add to the cold on Monday.

The German Weather Service warns of severe frost and ice.

Update from December 19, 5:50 a.m .:

Dangerous black ice hit large parts of Germany on Monday night.

Freezing rain with black ice first appeared in the west and north-west, later in the middle.

According to the DWD, there should also be widespread freezing rain in the north-east and east during the course of Monday.

Weather-related accidents occurred on some roads during the night.

Four people were injured in a collision between two cars on a snow-covered road near Gaggenau (Rastatt district).

In Rhineland-Palatinate, there were accidents in the Rhein-Lahn district with two minor injuries.

In the district of Warendorf in North Rhine-Westphalia, the police counted seven weather-related accidents with property damage between midnight and 3 a.m.

One fears more accidents in the morning hours.

There have already been several accidents on slippery roads during the night.

(Iconic image) © Harald Tittel/dpa

DWD urgently warns: "Risk of slippery roads with potential danger from freezing rain"

The weather service has already issued official severe weather warnings for many regions in Germany.

"There is a risk of ice with a potential hazard from freezing rain," it says.

In view of this, the DWD advises avoiding being outdoors as much as possible.

Anyone who has to be out and about by car on Monday should adjust their driving style on the road.

In addition, the DWD advises motorists to fill up their tanks and take blankets and warm drinks with them.

Significant traffic delays must be expected in both road and rail traffic.

There are also consequences for schools, for example in Lower Saxony: In several districts and cities, classes are canceled on Monday at all general and vocational schools due to the “expected extreme weather conditions”.

This was announced by the districts of Celle, Hameln-Pyrmont, County of Bentheim, Leer, Osterholz, Stade, Wittmund and Vechta as well as the cities of Delmenhorst, Hildesheim and Wolfsburg - as well as the city and district of Osnabrück.

Black ice alarm after "freezing rain": Germany is threatened with traffic chaos on Monday

Update from December 18, 7:18 p.m .:

On Sunday evening, the DWD issued a red category (level three) severe weather warning for large parts of Germany.

On the night of Monday there is initially "black ice in the north-west".

In addition, the DWD meteorologists warned that there was a “significant danger of black ice coming from the west”.

The south also has to reckon with ice across the board.

Update from December 18, 2:51 p.m .:

As early as Sunday evening, the DWD warns of black ice in large parts of the country.

But it only gets really dangerous on Monday morning.

The weather service now warns of a great danger of black ice from four to eleven o'clock.

Background: In the early hours of the morning, "freezing rain" is approaching Germany from the south-west and west.

"This can temporarily lead to stronger ice formation," according to the DWD.

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There is a risk of traffic chaos on Monday morning.

The weather service also predicts restrictions in road and rail traffic.

The situation should only gradually ease from noon onwards.

The entire northern part of Germany is particularly affected by the black ice warning on Monday.

During the morning, the freezing rain will move from west to east.

In the southern federal states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, on the other hand, there are only warnings about low levels of ice.

Winter traffic in the Allgäu near Bad Wörishofen.

(Iconic image) © IMAGO/MiS

Update from December 18, 2:27 p.m .:

Sunday night brought almost minus 20 degrees in parts of Germany.

In Bamberg, Franconia, the thermometer dropped to minus 17.7 degrees and in the Bavarian Forest it showed minus 19 degrees, as the DWD told the dpa.

The official level two weather warning on Sunday morning dropped to level one almost everywhere in Germany by midday and afternoon.

Due to the upcoming rain in the southwest and west, a higher warning level is to be expected towards evening.

The DWD warns in advance of the danger of black ice in the evening and at night.

Meanwhile, the icy weather also affected air traffic.

On the night of Sunday, 34 aircraft at Frankfurt Airport were given additional take-off and landing permits, as the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs announced on Sunday.

Due to the cold weather, the aircraft had to be repeatedly de-iced.

There have been exceptions like this again and again in the last few days.

A few days ago, numerous planes had to remain grounded at Munich Airport due to black ice.

Freezing cold and frost: weather warnings in almost all of Germany

First report from December 18th:

Munich – Anyone who lives in southern Germany can currently enjoy a fantastically beautiful winter landscape.

High snow cover and frosty temperatures create a Christmas spirit on the fourth Sunday of Advent.

But not everyone can enjoy this weather.

The German Weather Service (DWD) warns of freezing temperatures throughout Germany.

Temperatures above the snow cover can drop to as low as minus 18 degrees.

Even without snow, up to minus 12 degrees can be reached in the north.

DWD warns: black ice on the roads and up to minus 18 degrees

In many parts of Germany, there is a level two out of four "Warning for significant weather".

The DWD warns of permafrost in many places.

The south and east are particularly affected with "severe frost", with temperatures between minus ten and minus 15 degrees.

"Moderate frost" can occur in the north and west until the morning, with temperatures between minus five and minus ten degrees.

A cyclist on a snowy bike path in Munich.

© Simon Sachsenser/dpa

In addition to the frost, it can also be slippery in places.

The DWD issued an official warning of black ice for Monday night.

In the west and southwest, freezing rain is expected to fall overnight, which can lead to black ice on the roads.

Road users should be particularly careful, as black ice on the roads can quickly lead to accidents.

The situation is not expected to calm down until Monday morning.