Deep Gertrud will bring heavy snowfall and freezing rain on Wednesday. Experts also warn of lightning ice. You can find out which regions are affected here.
Winter in Germany has no plans to say goodbye yet. Deep Gertrud is expected on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing heavy snow, freezing rain and lightning ice.
Meteorologists warn of lightning ice in these regions
Shortly before the middle of the week, the weather situation in this country is still quite relaxed. It’s already snowing in parts of Germany and the roads are slippery – but we have so far been spared from the weather chaos. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), however, a dangerous situation could arise as early as the night of Wednesday, January 17, 2024. Meteorologists are expecting some heavy rain to spread from the southwest. At temperatures around freezing point, black ice is inevitable.
In the mountains there is permanent frost and in the lowlands the maximum values are between zero and three degrees. Freezing rain is to be expected in Baden-Württemberg and around the Main and Moselle. The likelihood of black ice formation increases there. There are warnings about icefall in Saarland, southern Palatinate and northern Bavaria. This happens when ice sticks to overhead wires and trees and then falls.
Dangerous situation due to Deep Gertrud
The Gertrud depression is responsible for the winter storms. This moves across the subtropical eastern Atlantic to central France, bringing with it air masses that are around 20 degrees warmer than those that currently determine our winter weather. The frozen ground reacts with the warm air and the risk of black ice is significantly increased.
Outlook: This is how it continues
The risk of black ice due to heavy rainfall will remain until Thursday night, then the situation will ease somewhat. Snow and sleet showers can still be expected on the coast, but otherwise the sun will come through from time to time in the north and things will become friendlier. Rain, sleet and snow are still expected in the south. The temperatures are between zero and eleven degrees, and it is warmest in the southwest.
Sources used: dwd.de, zdf.de, wetter.de