Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

WEATHER

Weathermen predict rain and snow after weekend winter wonderland

In pictures: After Germany enjoyed a white, wintery weekend, the weathermen are forecasting rainier weather but also more snow on its way for this week.

Published: 9 January 2017 18:13 CET
Weathermen predict rain and snow after weekend winter wonderland
A woman walks her dog Holly in Fulda, Hesse. Photo: DPA.

The country celebrated a weekend of winter fun as much of Germany experienced snowfall and temperatures well below freezing on Saturday and Sunday.

One station in Marienberg, Saxony recorded the mercury dropping to -31.4C on Saturday morning, while another recorded the temperature to be -30.6C, though the German Weather Service (DWD) registered the temperature in the town as -17C.

The coldest temperatures according to DWD were in Winkl and Schorndor, Bavaria at -26C.

Meteorologist Christoph Hartmann said at the weekend that the German Alps could have received up to 100cm of fresh snow, which was good news for winter sports lovers.

However while many people were out enjoying the snow, the icy temperatures also created treacherous travel conditions, leading to hundreds of accidents due to slippery roadways. In the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, police reported around 1,500 traffic accidents, while in Lower Saxony, 630 accidents were reported and one person was killed near Hanover on Saturday evening.

But predictions for the week ahead include showers and drizzling rain later in the week, as well as snow and winter storms.

By mid-week, strong storms are expected in coastal areas, while temperatures should be above freezing throughout much of the country.

Forecast for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from DWD:

With lots of fresh, new snow, many people at the weekend relished the opportunity to take to the slopes and play outside.
 

Many got out their toboggans and snow boots to enjoy the weekend snow, taking to social media to share photos of their white weekends.

Below, children in Munich go sledding in a park on Sunday.

Photo: DPA.

Others, as pictured below, even took to horseback as these residents of Baden-Württemberg.

Photo: DPA.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

FLOODS

German communities brace for flooding as water levels continue to rise

Water levels on the Elbe and Oder rivers in Germany are rising, sparking preparations for floods as the clean-up across central Europe gets underway.

Published: 19 September 2024 10:12 CEST
German communities brace for flooding as water levels continue to rise

As several countries in Europe face the devastating aftermath of severe flooding following torrential rain, communities in some regions of Germany are trying to manage rising water levels. 

According to a forecast by the state flood centre, the water on the Elbe river has not yet reached expected peaks. In the city of Dresden, the Elbe rose above the six-metre mark on Wednesday. There, as well as in Schöna on the border with the Czech Republic, the flood peak is expected on Thursday.

There is a cautious all-clear along other rivers in the east and south of Germany. Further north, however, Brandenburg is looking anxiously at the Oder river, which is expected to bring more water in the coming days.

READ ALSO: Parts of Germany hit by flooding as torrential rain wreaks havoc across central Europe

Flood crisis teams are due to meet in Frankfurt (Oder), located at the border with Poland, and other municipalities in Brandenburg on Thursday. A level 1 flood alert was issued for sections of the river on Wednesday.

According to the State Office for the Environment, floodplains and meadows close to the banks are expected to start flooding, with the areas of the Oder village of Ratzdorf to Eisenhüttenstadt particularly affected.

The state office believes the highest alert level – level 4 – with a water level of around six metres will be reached in the next few days near Ratzdorf, where the Oder reaches Brandenburg territory.

Clean-up work underway in central and eastern Europe

In the flood-hit areas from Poland to the Czech Republic and Austria, the clean-up work has now begun, but the situation is only slowly easing.

In many places, the emergency services are still struggling with masses of water. Soldiers are also providing support in Poland and the Czech Republic. However, the authorities are not yet giving the all-clear. So far, more than 20 people have tragically lost their lives in the region due to the extreme weather.

In the Polish city of Wroclaw in the west of the country, the flood wave was not expected until Thursday night. As several tributaries that also carry a lot of water flow into the Oder between Olawa and Wroclaw, the possibility of flooding in the Lower Silesian metropolis cannot be ruled out, said an expert.

Flooding in Bresgau Poland

A drone captures the high water levels in Bresgau, Poland, on September 19th. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/PAP | Maciej Kulczynski

Flood defences in Wroclaw have been reinforced as a precautionary measure. One third of the city of 630,000 inhabitants was flooded during the Oder flood in 1997.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to visit Poland on Thursday afternoon. According to the EU Commission, the trip is being organised at the invitation of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, his Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer are also expected to attend the meeting.

The talks are likely to focus on the question of funds from Brussels for reconstruction although the extent of the damage is still unclear.

With reporting from DPA

SHOW COMMENTS