Status: 12/14/2022 4:38 p.m
The German Weather Service warns of dangerous freezing rain, especially in the south of the country. There have already been numerous accidents in Baden-Württemberg. In Munich, air traffic came to a temporary standstill.
In Germany, icy winter weather is to be expected in the coming days. The German Weather Service (DWD) in Offenbach announced that there could be dangerous black ice until Thursday, especially south of Stuttgart and Augsburg. “Restrictions in rail and road traffic, including damage to infrastructure such as power lines and pylons, are possible,” said DWD meteorologist Robert Hausen, according to the announcement. The situation eased over the course of Thursday as the precipitation subsided.
In the night of Friday, however, it should snow more heavily in the south and south-east, and sleet is also possible. Temperatures will drop to zero to minus eight degrees. “The rest of the week it’s going to be wintry,” said Hausen. Severe frost below minus ten degrees is to be expected, especially at night with clear conditions and snow.
No take-offs and landings at Munich Airport
Due to the risk of ice from freezing rain, no planes could take off and land at Munich Airport in the afternoon. A spokesman for the airport said 133 flights had been canceled and 26 diverted. The entire crew of the airport is on duty with 150 clearing vehicles in order to be able to clear the two runways again as quickly as possible. However, one is dependent on the help of nature. “If there is no more freezing rain, such a runway can be used again within 20 to 25 minutes,” said the spokesman.
In addition, the municipal cemeteries in Munich remained closed today. “Mourning ceremonies and burials are carried out,” emphasized a city spokesman. Mourners would be picked up by cemetery staff at the respective main entrance, accompanied to the mourning hall and burial place and brought back to the exit.
Numerous accidents in Baden-Württemberg
In Baden-Württemberg, there were obstructions due to black ice, especially in the southern Baden area. Because the clinics had to treat many accident victims and were overcrowded because of the black ice, rescue workers in Freiburg set up a treatment station in the exhibition hall. The injured received medical care there and should be transported as soon as possible, the Red Cross said. Large parts of the Münsterplatz, which is popular with tourists, and the main shopping mile in Freiburg’s old town were closed due to the mirror-smooth streets.
There have been numerous accidents in the region around Freiburg. The police headquarters registered more than 50 traffic accidents as a result of the onset of winter by noon. Two buses and a gritting vehicle were also involved, a spokesman said. People were injured in five accidents in the entire area of responsibility of the Presidium. In addition, there were probably numerous fallen pedestrians in accidents for which the police were not called. The extent is extraordinary, said the police spokesman.