Home » News » Snow chaos in Germany: winter weather continues to slow down long-distance and local transport

Snow chaos in Germany: winter weather continues to slow down long-distance and local transport

Update, February 8, 2:05 p.m.: After snow chaos comes frost

Anyone who has spent a lot of time shoveling snow, especially in the northern part of Germany, can breathe a sigh of relief: The snow is falling into the coming days compared to the weekend clear back. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), it remains wintry – especially in the evening and after hours.

High “Gisela” brings plenty of frost, only a few areas remain frost-free at least during the day, according to the DWD meteorologists. On Tuesday, permafrost prevails almost everywhere from minus 5 to minus 10 degrees. In the middle of Germany, the thermometer can even drop to minus 15 degrees.

The following applies for the coming days: If freezer temperatures prevail during the day, the values ​​are more reminiscent of freezers at night. In central and eastern Germany, night frosts of minus 18 degrees should not be uncommon. If you have to go outside early in the morning, it is better to put on an extra layer of clothing, because in windy conditions the temperature can be minus 30 degrees.

In Kassel, a woman had to free her car from the masses of snow. © Uwe Zucchi / dpa

Update, February 8, 1:32 p.m.: Newspapers are offering e-paper due to winter delivery problems

Snow and ice made it difficult to deliver daily newspapers in many places on Monday. As a precautionary measure, numerous papers offered readers the current issue free of charge as an e-paper on the Internet.

These included, for example, the “Münsterschen Zeitung”, “Die Glocke”, “LVZ”, “Main-Post” and “Allgäuer Zeitung”.

Update, February 8, 12:52 p.m.: RTL changes program

RTL changes its program due to the persistent snow conditions. 8:15 p.m. is therefore a 15-minute RTL special be visible.

8.30pm the original program and the show “Undercover Boss” will continue.

Update, February 8, 12.50 p.m.: There is currently no tram traffic in Leipzig

In Leipzig, the first tram with a snow plow is driving to clear the tracks in the constant snowfall.

The entire bus and tram traffic has been discontinued, however, the trams are partly on a main road one behind the other because we got stuck in front.

In Leipzig, attempts are now being made to clear the tracks.

In Leipzig, attempts are now being made to clear the tracks. © Sebastian Willnow / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa

Update, February 8, 12:45 p.m.: Restrictions on rail traffic in Saxony

The heavy snowfalls and heavy drifts have on Monday Deutsche Bahn traffic in Saxony considerably restricted.

Long-distance traffic to and from Leipzig was completely stopped until at least noon, as a railway spokeswoman said. Initially, only the RE 50 drove from Leipzig to Dresden via Riesa.

Update, February 8, 12:05 p.m.: Truck driving ban on highways around Osnabrück extended

The bad weather-related driving ban for trucks over 7.5 tons on the motorways will remain in place around Osnabrück until late Monday evening (midnight). The ban continues to affect the A1, A30 and A33, as the Osnabrück police announced.

“Please continue to avoid all unnecessary journeys,” said the officials in a tweet on Twitter. For the motorway sections in Emsland and in the county of Bentheim, where the ban initially also applied, the regulation expired at noon. “The streets are free so far,” said a spokeswoman for the Emsland police.

Several centimeters of fresh snow fell in Osnabrück.

Several centimeters of fresh snow fell in Osnabrück. © Jonas Walzberg / dpa

Update, February 8, 11:58 a.m.: Difficult situation in Saxony-Anhalt

Winter also holds in Saxony-Anhalt Moving in: The snow masses hinder traffic on the motorways and cause numerous accidents.

In Halle, the users of the Katwarn warning app were asked on Monday morning to avoid all unnecessary trips and to stay at home for the time being.

The Magdeburg transport company has completely ceased operations.

Update, February 8, 11.55 a.m.: Almost 700 THW helpers nationwide in action

The Technische Hilfswerk (THW) is in use in many places across Germany after the heavy onset of winter. Due to snowfall, slippery snow, freezing rain and black ice, a total of 685 helpers from 64 local sections were on duty in the past 24 hours, as a spokeswoman for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief said on Monday morning for the German press agency.

In some cases, the operations continued. The tasks are varied and ranged from clearing roads to de-icing tracks, salvaging trucks and clearing building roofs to transporting food for clinics. Most of the THW missions have already ended.

Further deployments are currently expected, especially in the federal states of Saxony and Thuringia as well as Bavaria due to fresh snow and slipperiness.

A truck is pulled up the Brabschützer Berg on the Autobahn 4 in the direction of Frankfurt near Dresden by the Technical Relief Organization (THW).

A truck is pulled up the Brabschützer Berg on the Autobahn 4 in the direction of Frankfurt near Dresden by the Technical Relief Organization (THW). © Robert Michael / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa

Update, February 8, 11:52 a.m.: Ferry traffic to the East Frisian Islands further disrupted

Persistent strong east wind and the associated low water cause problems with ferry traffic to and from many East Frisian islands on Monday.

The connections between Baltrum and Nessmersiel and the ferry between Wangerooge and Harlesiel failed on Monday, as the operators announced on the Internet. The trips planned for Monday noon were also canceled between Langeoog and Bensersiel.

The ferry traffic between Norderney and Norddeich went largely according to plan. Juist can still not be reached by ship.

Update, February 8, 10:52 a.m.: Flight operations in Dortmund temporarily suspended

Because the runway is icy, Dortmund Airport has temporarily suspended flight operations. The airport announced on Monday that no machines could take off and land until 1 p.m. Machines with destination Dortmund would be diverted to Cologne / Bonn, said a spokeswoman.

There, as well as at the largest airport in North Rhine-Westphalia in Düsseldorf, flight operations ran on Monday morning without any disruptions. According to the spokeswoman, it was initially not foreseeable how things would continue in Dortmund.

Update, February 8, 10 a.m .: found dead in the blowing snow in downtown Bielefeld

In the Bielefeld city center the police found a dead man in the snow that morning. According to a spokesman in the North Rhine-Westphalian city, the circumstances are currently still open.

It is therefore still unclear whether it is a medical emergency or whether the person froze to death in the storm. The investigations of the colleagues on site have not yet been concluded.

Update, February 8, 10 a.m.: Traffic chaos on the A4 in Saxony

The extreme onset of winter also causes chaos on the streets and the Autobahn 4 in Dresden and the surrounding area. In Dresden jammed in the direction of Chemnitz for up to 30 kilometers.

Several trucks stood still, the THW is in action.




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