White Christmas will be canceled for most people in Germany this year. It will remain wet and windy at the festival, as the German Weather Service in Offenbach predicted. “It’s been magical for years, snow at Christmas just doesn’t seem to be possible across Germany anymore,” said DWD meteorologist Marcel Schmid.
The traffic situation eased somewhat after the storm “Zoltan” passed over Germany. Deutsche Bahn says it has largely repaired the storm damage. “Regional traffic is running as scheduled again and long-distance traffic is returning to normal,” said a railway spokesman this morning. However, due to the upcoming holidays, long-distance trains are very busy.
There was heavy traffic on the streets the day before Christmas Eve. “But there was no big chaos,” said an ADAC spokeswoman. There were longer traffic jams, especially in the south on the Autobahn 8 Stuttgart-Munich and from Munich towards Salzburg. Traffic there was backed up for ten to 15 kilometers in the morning. In Saxony, progress was slow for 22 kilometers on the A72 near Chemnitz.
Prolonged rainfall
The German Weather Service explained that although storm depression “Zoltan” has now moved into the Baltics, Germany remains within the influence of an air mass limit. According to meteorologist Schmid, there should be longer lasting rainfall in a strip from the North Sea to the Ore Mountains. “In some cases it snows to the east down to low altitudes and in the Erzgebirge there is sometimes severe weather.” During the night the air mass boundary moves northeastwards and a strong thaw sets in.
According to the expert, very mild weather dominates on Christmas Eve at eight to thirteen degrees. Rainfall occurs again and again, and is sometimes heavier, especially around the mountains. “The tense constant rain and flood situation in some areas is continuing,” said Schmid.
According to the meteorologist, low-level foothills repeatedly pass over Germany during the Christmas holidays. The weather therefore continues to be changeable. Thanks to the supply of Atlantic air, it also remains very mild. The DWD predicts highs of eight to thirteen degrees for Monday and seven to twelve degrees for Tuesday.
A little friendlier in the south
According to Schmid, the snowfall limit lies beyond the summits of the low mountain ranges. It only drops again to around 1000 meters in the north and the center on Boxing Day. The weather over the holidays is a little friendlier in the south. “It stays mostly dry there and the sun can prevail at times and in certain areas.”
The meteorologist warned that it would remain very windy in Germany until Boxing Day. Stormy gusts continued to threaten at times and in certain areas, including squalls in some areas. “It’s only during Boxing Day that the wind from the west gradually runs out of steam.”
In view of the storm and rain, the ADAC warned drivers to adjust their speed and, especially when overtaking, to be prepared for gusts. The wind can also be dangerous on bridges. The car club expected increased travel traffic until Saturday afternoon. According to the forecast, it will be quiet on the streets on Christmas Eve, as well as on Christmas Day. The ADAC expects the first return journeys and more traffic from the afternoon of the second Christmas holiday.
On Friday, the storm “Zoltan” passed over Germany and significantly hindered traffic on roads and railways.
