Status: 12/19/2022 9:28 am
Dangerous black ice prevails in many places. In Frankfurt, the weather is causing flight cancellations, and some federal states have canceled school classes. There were numerous accidents on the roads – one driver died.
Dangerous black ice haunts large parts of Germany at the start of the week. Freezing rain with black ice first appeared in the west and north-west, later in the middle. The German Weather Service (DWD) issued severe weather warnings for parts of all federal states in the morning. Traffic obstructions are possible due to black ice, and roads and rails could even be impassable in places, it said.
According to the forecast, spurs of a low will spread south of Iceland and also to eastern Germany during the day. “Black ice rain occurs. Then milder air gradually prevails,” said the DWD.
“If you can, you shouldn’t go out at all today,” Donald Bäcker, WDR, on the black ice situation in large parts of Germany
Tagesschau 09:00 a.m., 19.12.2022
Black ice could last for a long time
Because the ground is frozen to a depth of more than 20 centimeters, the black ice situation can last for a long time. “The mitigation has now largely prevailed in western North Rhine-Westphalia, where the black ice situation is increasingly easing.”
Temperatures are rising this week. With the mild air comes rain, which makes the frozen ground slippery.
Flight cancellations in Frankfurt, the train slows down
The black ice also disrupted the processes at Germany’s largest airport in Frankfurt. In view of the weather conditions, there are delays in operations and flight cancellations, the airport said. According to an airport spokeswoman, 176 of the around 1,100 take-offs and landings planned for Monday had already been canceled in the morning. Travelers were asked to find out before their flight whether their booked machine is starting and should come to the check-in counter as early as possible.
Flight operations have not been completely stopped, said the spokeswoman. However, there is initially a so-called approach control, which means that only a certain number of machines – fewer than usual – are allowed to land per hour. The Northwest runway was therefore closed in the morning. The winter service and gritting vehicles are in constant use. The necessary de-icing of the aircraft also leads to delays.
Because of the weather, Deutsche Bahn trains are also affected. Until further notice, the maximum speed has been reduced, the company informed its passengers. “Please expect delays.” In addition, the railway asked for particular caution when boarding and alighting as well as while staying on the platforms, which are currently icy in many places. “Clearance workers are on their way,” it said. Deutsche Bahn recommended that travelers inform themselves online or by phone before starting their journey.
Several road accidents
Accidents, some serious, occurred in many places on the road. A 25-year-old driver was killed in an accident early in the morning on Autobahn 27 near Walsrode-Hamwiede (Lower Saxony). A spokesman for the Langwedel Autobahn Police said the car left the roadway due to slippery roads.
Traffic accidents were also reported from other regions. For example, the police in the district of Warendorf near Münster reported “first accidents with property damage”. In Mainz, the police recorded 63 traffic accidents, so far without injuries. The fire brigade in Bonn has reported 24 surgical emergencies since Sunday evening, “which are essentially due to falls on the slippery surface”.
The police in North Rhine-Westphalia had feared further accidents early in the morning. “Perhaps one or the other can postpone their departure time a bit, at least until the gritting services are over,” said a spokesman at the time.
DWD: Avoid staying outdoors if possible
The DWD advised to avoid 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.
There are also consequences for schools, for example in Lower Saxony: In several districts and cities, classes are canceled today at all general and vocational schools due to the “expected extreme weather conditions”. Also in Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Southern Germany there are cancellations or distance learning
In Bremen school starts later. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Parents do not necessarily have to send their children to school today because of the tense weather conditions. The lessons in Schleswig Holstein and Hamburg should take place as usual.