The Christmas weekend will be predominantly wet in Germany: After storm Zoltan, a lot of rain and snow and, in some places, flooding can now be expected. Train travelers have to be prepared for full trains.
After strong winds and the storm surge caused by depression “Zoltan”, heavy rain or snow is expected in Germany. The authorities are warning of floods for parts of Lower Saxony, Hamburg, Saxony-Anhalt and Bavaria.
As a result of the continuous rain, rainfall of 60 to 90 liters per square meter can be expected in many places in 48 to 72 hours, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). Storms with 90 to 120 liters per square meter are also forecast for some regions. In the eastern low mountain ranges, precipitation is expected to increasingly turn into rain from Saturday evening and a thaw will set in.
White Christmas? “How bewitched”
According to the DWD, fresh snow is possible above 600 to 800 meters. However, it is expected to remain mostly wet and windy at the festival. “It’s been magical for years, snow at Christmas just doesn’t seem to be possible across Germany anymore,” said DWD meteorologist Marcel Schmid.
According to the DWD, very mild weather dominates on Christmas Eve at eight to thirteen degrees. Rainfall occurs again and again, and is sometimes heavier, especially around the mountains. During the Christmas holidays, low foothills pass over Germany. The weather therefore continues to be changeable.
Bahn: “It will definitely be full”
Meanwhile, Deutsche Bahn announced that it had largely repaired the storm damage after “Zoltan”. “Regional traffic is running as scheduled again and long-distance traffic is returning to normal,” said a railway spokesman. However, repairing the damage could take longer on some routes. There could be delays.
Deutsche Bahn expects the trains to be very busy over the weekend – in addition to the already heavy Christmas traffic, there will be travelers who had to postpone their journey to the weekend because of the storm: “It will definitely be full.”
ADAC: “The big chaos didn’t happen”
There is heavy traffic on the streets the day before Christmas Eve. “But there was no big chaos,” said an ADAC spokeswoman. There were longer traffic jams, especially in the south on the Autobahn 8 Stuttgart-Munich and from Munich towards Salzburg. Traffic there was backed up for ten to 15 kilometers in the morning. In Saxony, progress was slow for 22 kilometers on the A72 near Chemnitz.
In view of the storm and rain, the ADAC warned drivers to adjust their speed and, especially when overtaking, to be prepared for gusts. The wind can also be dangerous on bridges. The automobile club does not expect heavy traffic on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day. The ADAC expects the first return journeys and more traffic from the afternoon of the second Christmas holiday.
On Friday, the storm “Zoltan” passed over Germany on its way northeast and significantly hindered traffic on roads and railways. Train travelers in particular had to be patient. There were deaths from the storm in the Netherlands and Belgium.