Red alert throughout Bavaria, the DWD warns of black ice. But this is not the only weather warning in the Free State that applies on Wednesday.
- Red alert in Bavaria: The German Weather Service (DWD) warns of black ice.
- Purple alert in the Free State: In some circles there are even warnings about extreme black ice.
- More weather warnings: Gusty winds are also possible.
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Update, January 17th, 8:15 a.m.: At Munich Airport, the weather conditions with freezing rain and slippery conditions are causing cancellations. Of around 650 planned take-offs and landings on Wednesday, more than 250 flights were canceled, a spokeswoman said in the morning. According to the provisional status, the remaining aircraft should take off or land as planned. According to the airport, whether it stays that way depends on further developments.
Update, January 17, 7:34 a.m.: The DWD warns of black ice throughout Bavaria, and in some circles even of extreme black ice (see previous updates). So far, there have only been a few accidents on the roads. A spokesman for the Swabia South/West Police Headquarters reported five accidents in the area on Wednesday; no one was injured. There were four crashes in northern Upper Bavaria, and here too, according to a police spokesman, there was no material damage. In other parts of Bavaria, there are said to have been no major operations on the slippery roads, for example in Franconia and Lower Bavaria.
Red and purple alert levels in Bavaria: severe weather warning of extreme black ice
Update, January 17, 7:07 a.m.: There is now not only a red alert in Bavaria, i.e. an official storm warning of black ice. Purple alert has now reached the Free State. An “official storm warning for extreme black ice” has been in effect in the northwest since 6 a.m. and until 4 a.m. Thursday. The districts of Main-Spessart, Miltenberg and the district and city of Aschaffenburg are affected.
Purple alert: Extreme black ice in Bavaria
“There is a very high risk of black ice due to freezing rain and heavy ice build-up. Initially also snowfall, turning into freezing rain with black ice formation,” says the DWD, which also points out possible dangers and gives tips: “Great danger to life and limb due to freezing rain with heavy ice build-up; widespread icefall. Recommendations for action: Absolutely avoid staying outdoors and traveling; Be prepared for significant disruptions on all traffic routes, including closures/closures, adapt your driving style if necessary, fill up the tank if possible, carry blankets and warm drinks with you; prepare for network failures (e.g. electricity, mobile communications, …); follow the development of the threat situation on radio, television, internet, etc.; Follow requests from the disaster control/civil defense authorities,”
Weather warnings throughout Bavaria: freezing rain in Munich
Update, January 17th, 6:45 a.m.: It’s getting uncomfortable in Bavaria, as can be seen from a video from The Weather Channel. Under the title “Germany is freezing: The ice and snow timetable for Wednesday”, meteorologist Jan Schenk reports on the weather today, January 17th. Munich is expected to be affected by freezing rain until 2 p.m., then it will turn into plain rain.
Red alert in Bavaria: black ice and squalls in the Free State
Update from January 17th, 6:13 a.m.: There is a red alert in Bavaria, the DWD has issued an official severe weather warning for black ice – it affects the entire Free State. It is mostly valid until 4 a.m. on Thursday. In some cases the warning expires earlier, for example in the Oberallgäu and Ostallgäu districts (Wednesday, 12 p.m.). In addition, there are warnings of squalls in some places until Thursday morning, for example in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.
Update, January 16, 8:10 p.m: It is now clear how massively the storm situation will affect Munich. The Munich S-Bahn warns of failures. Deutsche Bahn is expecting the worst for long-distance and regional transport in Bavaria.
Update from January 16th, 2:45 p.m: Early on Tuesday afternoon, the DWD further specified the warning situation for Wednesday and now writes in the warning situation report: “On Wednesday night from the southwest, freezing rain initially spread to parts of Swabia, Middle Franconia and Upper Bavaria, and on Wednesday during the day quickly to the northern and eastern parts Expanding low mountain ranges. Black ice (storms) is spreading, and in western Lower Franconia, large amounts of precipitation also cause extreme ice build-up on objects, trees and overhead lines, as well as an increased risk of ice breaking!”
ADAC also warns of a dangerous situation on Wednesday – and gives tips
Update from January 16th, 2:35 p.m: The first schools in Bavaria reacted to the threat of exceptional disruption on Wednesday and announced that face-to-face teaching would be cancelled. More information is available here.
Update from January 16th, 2:15 p.m: The ADAC also warns urgently about the weather conditions on Wednesday. With reference to the DWD warnings, the ADAC writes that drivers should avoid non-essential journeys. And if you still have to go on the road, you should drive carefully and foresight.
First report from January 16th: Munich – The three-pack will be put together on Wednesday, January 17th: It started with a cold, wintry weekend, followed by heavy snowfall at the start of the week. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), there is a risk of freezing rain next night. This is particularly dangerous for people on the street, whether in the car or on foot.
Danger of freezing rain: DWD warns about weather conditions
On Tuesday, January 16th, it should clear up across Bavaria during the day, and according to the meteorologists from the German Weather Service, snowfall will begin again in the evening – coming from the southwest. On Wednesday night, however, this turns into rain: “Next night, initially snowfall from the southwest, turning into freezing rain on Wednesday morning,” summarizes the DWD in the current warning situation report. Accordingly, it is also becoming dangerous in southwest Germany; in some cases the highest warning level even applies there.
Correspondingly, the warning for the entire Free State is implemented in bright red in the DWD warning map: This is an “official severe weather warning for black ice”. The statement states: “There is a high risk of slippery conditions due to freezing rain and ice formation. Initially light snowfall, quickly transitioning to freezing rain!”
“Danger to life and limb”: DWD warns urgently about the danger of black ice
The German Weather Service writes about the possible dangers associated with black ice:
Danger to life and limb due to sudden freezing rain. Recommendations for action: Avoid spending time outdoors and traveling or adapt your behavior in traffic; Be prepared for disruptions on all traffic routes, including closures/closures, adapt your driving style if necessary, fill up the tank if possible, and carry blankets and warm drinks with you.”
The warning is currently in effect from 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning until 4 p.m. in the afternoon. In addition, the DWD writes that there could be a lot of fresh snow again during the day on Wednesday. Namely “1-5 centimeters of fresh snow in parts of Swabia, Middle Franconia and Upper Bavaria”. “Large amounts of new snow of 10-20 centimeters cannot be ruled out in northern Franconia until Thursday,” the warning situation report concludes. (fhz)
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