[ad_1]
WDue to a storm warning, several train connections in northern Germany were canceled on Saturday. On weekends there are no long-distance trains between Hamburg and Kiel, Hamburg and Lübeck and between Hamburg and Westerland, as Deutsche Bahn announced. On Saturdays and Sundays there are no intercity trains between Bremen and Norddeich Mole and between Münster and Norddeich Mole. Furthermore, according to Deutsche Bahn, long-distance traffic between Hamburg and the cities of Rostock, Stralsund and Binz is significantly reduced over the weekend.
The biggest snow chaos in years threatens over the weekend, but only in northern Germany. While the German Weather Service (DWD) expects a snowstorm and freezing cold there, there should be spring foehn in the south. The DWD has warned of extreme snowfall and drifting snow in parts of Germany through Monday night. Especially in north central Germany, 15 to 40 centimeters of fresh snow and snow accumulations of up to more than a meter can be expected from Saturday night to Monday night, the DWD announced in an official warning. Saturday.
Roads and railroads could become impassable due to extreme snowdrifts. There is a risk of snow breaking. “Drive only in winter gear and generally avoid driving!” It read in the warning message.
Compare with winter 1978/79
According to the DWD, the region from Emsland and Münsterland to the Harz region will be particularly affected from Saturday night. In the Ruhr area, Siegerland, in central Hesse and Upper Franconia, however, there is freezing rain from Sunday afternoon until Monday, which could result in a layer of ice several centimeters thick.
DWD also expects freezing storm-like rains with supra-regional effects on roads and railways. Deutsche Bahn reported: “There may be train delays and cancellations.” Passengers who wanted to postpone planned trips for the weekend due to the announced start of winter in northern Germany could use long-distance tickets already booked “flexibly or free of charge” up to and including seven days after the end of the interruption. The ADAC recommends that you carry a blanket with you in your car in an emergency or, better yet, leave it there.
Meteorologists speak of a “memorable event with a rarity” and draw comparisons to the winter of 1978/79, when the transport, supply and communication network collapsed during a snow disaster in northern Germany. Experts expect a temperature gradient of around 20 degrees between northern and southern Germany.
In Lower Saxony, for example, fire brigade and disaster control, police, transport and rail companies, road maintenance and cleaning services were preparing for a challenging weekend. Forecasters expected the southern part of Lower Saxony to be particularly hard hit. People should be prepared for the fact that the power supply fails and the house cannot be left due to black ice, as Franz Molé, head of the DWD’s forecasting and advisory center, said.
