It wasn’t just snowing heavily in Germany – half a meter of snow also fell in the Alpine region during the night. There were traffic jams and accidents, and authorities warned of avalanches. Air traffic was temporarily interrupted in Scotland.
Heavy snowfall has restricted public life in several parts of northern and central Europe. The second highest avalanche warning level applies in parts of Austria and Switzerland. As in Germany, there were traffic problems there. These were also reported in the Czech Republic, as were power outages. The airport in Glasgow, Scotland temporarily suspended its flights.
The authorities announced that the fourth warning level had been declared in the high altitudes of the federal states of Tyrol and Vorarlberg. In Switzerland, the danger of avalanches in high alpine terrain is high in Graubünden and Valais, according to the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research. In the Austrian Tyrol there were problems on the road and in rail traffic. In addition, the power went out in some places because trees fell on the lines.
The ÖAMTC traffic club reported deep winter road conditions, especially on the north side of the Alps and on the eastern edge of the Alps. Many main routes were difficult to pass and there were frequent traffic jams and accidents. Highways were also affected. During the night, around 50 centimeters of snow fell in the mountains in many places in Switzerland and western Austria.
For Zurich it was the first snow of the season.
Snow emergency in South Bohemia
Heavy snowfall has also led to traffic problems and power outages in the Czech Republic. Hundreds of clearing vehicles were in constant use. A snow emergency has been declared in the administrative region of South Bohemia on the border with Bavaria. Around three quarters of a meter of fresh snow fell there overnight. A 20-kilometer-long traffic jam formed on the D1 motorway between Prague and Brno after a truck accident.
According to energy suppliers, more than 15,000 households were without power after heavy wet snow damaged overhead power lines. There were closures and disruptions in train traffic on several routes due to fallen trees. The first division football games between Jablonec and Teplice and between Ceske Budejovice (Budweis) and Hradec Kralove have been postponed to a later date due to weather conditions.
Snowed in: the region near Volary in South Bohemia.
Warnings for England and Scotland
The airport in the Scottish city of Glasgow temporarily suspended operations due to heavy snowfall. The snowfall was heavier than predicted, according to a statement from Glasgow Airport on further. According to a recent entry, this is already the case.
Passengers were asked to check with their airline for updates. The British weather service Met Office had issued ice and snow warnings for parts of Scotland as well as the entire east coast of England and the southwest of England.