Photos: Snow causes accidents in western Germany; New snow threat to target southern areas
After snow created slippery travel across western Germany, another winter storm threatens to do the same across southern areas on Saturday.
Thursday started with a band of snow sweeping across western Germany. While there was not a substantial amount of snowfall, enough whitened the ground and roads to create slick conditions.
“We had significantly more accidents than on normal days,” a spokesman for the Bonn police told the German Weather Service. By 8 a.m. CET, police reported about a dozen accidents due to slippery roads.
About 50 weather-related accidents were reported around Mainz on Thursday morning. Two drivers sustained injuries in a head-on collision.
An airline passenger captured this snowy scene when flying into Düsseldorf, Germany, on 15 February 2018. (Twitter Photo/@JenniYarwood)
A total of 231 flights were delayed at Dusseldorf Airport, according to FlightAware.
Snow created this winter wonderland scene in Troisdorf, Germany, during the early morning hours of 15 February 2018. (Twitter Photo/@MartinaRosemann)
Snow covered Remscheid, Germany, on 15 February 2018. (Instagram Photo/xlilax1205)
The departure of this storm is quickly being followed by a new winter storm that will target Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria to start the weekend.
While mostly rain is expected along the lower Rhine River Valley, enough cold air should be in place for snow to spread across the rest of southern Germany.
The highest snow totals can be measured in the higher terrain, where 8-15 cm (3-6 inches) may fall by Saturday evening. The snow will be a boon for the ski industry, but slow and treacherous travel can be expected as roads and sidewalks become snow-packed and slippery.
With temperatures near or slightly above freezing in the lower elevations, the amount of snow that covers the ground and roads will depend on intensity.
Heavy snowfall can overcome temperatures above freezing and allow 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) to make roads slippery. For children and those young at heart, the wet nature of the snow will mean perfect conditions to make snowballs and snowmen.
In areas that receive lighter snowfall, accumulations will generally be held to a coating to 5 cm (2 inches).
Light snow versus moderate to heavy snow will also mean the difference between mostly wet and slushy or slippery roads across southern Germany during the daylight hours. Air travelers should also prepare for potential flight delays or cancellations.
Odds favor that the heaviest band of snow and highest snow totals will focus on central parts of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, including Stuttgart.
Amounts will generally be held to a coating, mainly on grassy surfaces, across far northern parts of Bavaria.
"Travel will be difficult at times with snow-covered roads, including on the A3, A6, A7, A8, A9 and A81," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said. "Transportation delays may also result."
The danger for slick travel will not end when the snow stops or where roads stay wet. Plunging temperatures on Saturday night will cause any wet or slushy, untreated areas to turn icy.
The cycle of daytime melting and a refreeze at night may close out the weekend as temperatures creep back above freezing on Sunday before plummeting once again at night.
The dry weather spanning northern Germany on Saturday will expand to southern areas to close out the weekend.
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