The German Weather Service (DWD) warns of snowfall that will turn into freezing rain on Wednesday morning. The streets in Munich could be slippery as glass. And not just there: Those responsible at Munich Airport in Erdinger Moos expect “significant restrictions on flight operations” until midday. And as a precaution, the railway has also announced that it will have “effects throughout Germany” on regional and long-distance transport. The Munich S-Bahn states that there may be weather-related restrictions in S-Bahn traffic. Passengers are asked to keep their distance from the edge of the platform and to exercise caution when boarding and alighting. Class cancellations like in other parts of Bavaria had not yet been announced for Munich on Tuesday afternoon.
“There is a high risk of slippery conditions due to freezing rain and ice formation,” warns the DWD and predicts: “Initially light snowfall, rapid transition to freezing rain.” The trigger was “a strikingly pronounced warm front” that spread to Bavaria on Wednesday night. Black ice is expected to occur in a storm-like manner.
The city has therefore announced that the construction department’s winter service will begin with a special operation on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday with full staff. The more than 1,000 employees are supposed to use 600 vehicles to spread road salt and grit on roadways, sidewalks and bicycle paths. The city says that preventative surface treatment in advance is crucial in the event of freezing rain so that ice formation can be reduced as much as possible.
Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out that sidewalks, cycle paths and roadways can be very slippery and dangerous in places, especially in the morning hours, according to a statement. This situation could continue throughout the day. The city is therefore asking Munich residents to prepare for potential disruptions caused by slippery and unfavorable road conditions.
It also points out the residents’ obligation: Outside the so-called full access area, owners must ensure that sidewalks are cleared and that grit is spread to prevent slippery conditions. This legal obligation to clear the premises must be completed by 7 a.m. on weekdays and is valid until 8 p.m. If there is no sidewalk, a pedestrian lane of sufficient width must be cleared and secured along the property.
Munich Airport has announced that there will probably be “significant restrictions” on flight operations until midday on Wednesday. Travelers should check flight status with their airline.
Lufthansa is canceling numerous flights: “The forecast bad weather conditions and the weather warnings from the German Weather Service will lead to flight schedule restrictions to and from Frankfurt and Munich on January 17th and 18th,” it says. “If your flight is canceled and you do not have another confirmation for the same day, please do not come to the airport,” the airline appeals to its customers. The airport operators have significantly reduced the overall capacity, and Lufthansa has significantly reduced the entire flight schedule for short and long-haul flights.
The airline promised to inform passengers affected by cancellations at an early stage. Apparently not an easy undertaking given the number of cancellations, as was evident on the short message service X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday afternoon.
Lufthansa wants to “quickly return to scheduled and stable flight operations after the weather improves, which is expected for Friday,” reported the dpa news agency. Already on Tuesday afternoon he showed Flight plan for Munich Airport that at least two thirds of all departures from Erdinger Moos would not take place on Wednesday morning.