On the fourth weekend of Advent, calm winter weather prevails in large parts of Germany. Due to the “Kaspar” high, the weather processes are significantly less spectacular than in the past few days, said meteorologist Florian Bilgeri from the German Weather Service (DWD). From the Thuringian Forest and the Wasserkuppe to the Allgäu and the Swabian Alb, pedestrians and winter sports enthusiasts are drawn outside into the snow.
In the Swabian Alb, the winter season started with plenty of sunshine. “Despite the low snow conditions of up to 15 centimeters, the slope conditions are good because we have very cold temperatures,” said the operator of the winter sports arena in Lichtenstein (Reutlingen district), Jochen Gekeler. The slope is resilient, by Saturday afternoon 1000 guests had already come. From next week onwards there will be a pause due to the expected milder temperatures. “If the temperatures are back in the minus range, we open again”.
Tobogganing possible almost everywhere
According to the Schwäbische Alb Tourist Association, winter walks and tobogganing are possible almost everywhere. “More lifts and trails are still waiting for snow supplies. Since the lift operators in the Alb do not produce artificial snow, which is welcome for ecological and energy reasons, the coverage is mostly still a little too thin for skiing or cross-country skiing,” said Managing Director Louis Schumann.
In Willingen (Northern Hesse), several thousand pedestrians and skiers were out and about under a bright blue sky, as spokesman Jörg Wilke said. About 50 centimeters of artificial snow lie on the downhill runs. The ski slope operator on the Wasserkuppe was also satisfied. “It’s well attended, but not yet overcrowded,” said Florian Heitmann. Visitors can look forward to 40 centimeters of artificial snow and up to 20 centimeters of natural snow.
The winter sports season also picked up speed in the Thuringian Forest: the sunny winter weather lured many people into nature, said a spokesman for the Thuringian Forest regional association. “The total length of the groomed cross-country skiing trails is currently 112 kilometers,” said the spokesman. Oberstdorf im Allgäu was also positive. The demand is quite high and many guests are expected “who are looking forward to making the first turns on the ski slope”, as Tourism Oberstdorf announced.
In the Sauerland, around 60 lifts went into operation in the ski areas around Winterberg in picture-book weather. Susanne Schulten, spokeswoman for the Wintersport Arena Sauerland, expects the first real rush of visitors from the second day of Christmas – if it stays cool.
The weather forecast
On Sunday it should be mostly sunny and dry in Germany, later clouds will move in from the west. Temperatures there rise to just above zero degrees. In the east and in the middle of Germany the sun is showing, but with maximum values of minus five to zero degrees it is significantly frostier. The DWD also expects fog or high fog, which will persist, especially on the Danube.
In the night to Monday it will be much more uncomfortable. Rain is coming from the west, which could turn into dangerous black ice in the north and parts of the center, said DWD meteorologist Bilgeri. “Even storm-like developments are quite conceivable,” he said. In the new week it will be much milder.
