Mass collision with black ice on the A70 – frost forecast for next week
Source: dpa/Matthias Bein
Night frost, snow and sleet showers: The German Weather Service calls the current situation a “late guest appearance of the winter”. There was a mass collision on the A 70 in Upper Franconia with around 20 people injured. And there is no change in sight.
bAround 20 people were injured in a pile-up in slippery snow on Autobahn 70 in Upper Franconia. According to a police spokeswoman, more than 20 vehicles, including cars and a long-distance bus, were involved in the accident on Saturday morning. She was initially unable to provide any information about the course of the accident or the severity of the injuries. A rescue helicopter and a police helicopter were in use, the latter to record the accident.
The Autobahn 8 south of Munich also had to be completely closed on Saturday due to several lightning ice accidents. At midday there were traffic accidents in both lanes near Bernauer Berg, the police said. According to the information, vehicles were standing sideways. According to the information, a large contingent of emergency and rescue workers was on site.
There were also unusual reports for this time of year from the Ore Mountains. It snowed in the region on Saturday night, so that a blanket of snow formed from around 600 meters above sea level, said Florian Engelmann from the German Weather Service (DWD). Around 20 centimeters of new snow fell on Fichtelberg and Carlsfeld within 24 hours. “These amounts are remarkable for this time of year.”
There are always cold snaps in April. What is unusual, however, is that the weather changes from the warmest to the coldest possible scenario, explained the meteorologist, with a view to the summer temperatures at the beginning of the month. The winter service had to be deployed again in many places to clear roads. More snow could fall next night – up to five centimeters.
Deep called “Annina” causes further cold
The weather probably won’t get any better: polar air will cause winter in April in Germany in the coming days. After heavy snowfall on Saturday night in the Thuringian Forest and in the western Ore Mountains, with 20 centimeters of fresh snow in places, swirling flakes are also expected in other regions, as the DWD in Offenbach announced on Saturday.
A low called “Annina” is responsible for the winter weather. This is currently over Poland and is bringing cold air to Germany.
On Sunday night, meteorologists expect some heavy snowfall, especially from the Sauerland via northern Hesse to the Thuringian Forest; according to the DWD, a thin blanket of snow could also form at low altitudes. Above 400 to 600 meters there is more than 15 centimeters of fresh snow. Sunday will initially bring sleet and sleet showers, mainly to the south, and heavy snowfall is likely to begin in the Alps and in the foothills of the Alps in the evening.
“Winter is making another late appearance,” said meteorologist Christian Herold. According to the DWD, the weather, which is unusually cold for this time of year, is not expected to change in the coming week.
Although the rainfall is decreasing, night frost could occur across Germany. This, in turn, could damage the already well-advanced vegetation, the DWD said. Although a rough trend towards the end of the month shows a gradual warming, there is currently no sign of a stable high with sun and high temperatures.