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Thaw chaos in the north: ice, roof avalanches and canceled games!
Thaw weather in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: temperature changes, risk of ice and canceled sporting events characterize the situation.
Thaw chaos in the north: ice, roof avalanches and canceled games!
The thaw in the north brings with it a whole range of challenges. The roads are slippery in cold, wet weather and the fire brigade expects an increased risk of slippery roads, especially at night. Experts warn that the condensation that has accumulated under the snow is endangering not only the streets but also roofs. As a result, falling icicles and roof avalanches cause additional commotion in cities like Braunschweig. Here, homeowners are asked to actively counteract the resulting risk, as they can be held responsible if they fail to comply, as NDR reports.
In addition, many fire brigade teams in Norderstedt are on duty to remove water accumulation in apartments and basements. The blocked gutters and drains in Hamburg lead to overflowing water, which further complicates the situation. Despite these challenges, there is no risk of flooding in Lower Saxony, even if the water levels in the rivers rise.
Cancellation of the football game and traffic news
One of the most striking consequences of the weather is the short-term cancellation of the Bundesliga soccer game between Hamburger SV and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Volksparkstadion. The static risks caused by the thaw meant that the stadium had to be closed. A large part of the condensation water flowed onto the roof under the blanket of snow and had to be treated urgently. This situation also massively affects traffic flow and causes traffic jams, as NAG Hamburg adds.
However, S-Bahn and regional transport were mostly able to operate as planned and without any significant restrictions. Deutsche Bahn also reports that regional traffic in northern Germany is largely running normally. Nevertheless, there were additional delays at Hamburg Central Station due to damage to the overhead line. The situation remains tense for shipping on the Elbe. The ice is hindering the journey of the Elbe ferries, and the ferry “Tanja” has stopped operating. A resumption is currently being examined.
Temperatures in the north rise to a pleasant 8 degrees during the day, but drop back below freezing as darkness falls, which can make the slippery roads dangerous again. In addition, thick fog must be expected in the morning, which can reduce visibility to less than 150 meters.
Conclusion and outlook
Overall, it is clear that the thaw brings with it both opportunities and risks. Positive news from the region is at least that the municipal sports and gymnasiums in Hamburg are reopening and the city of Braunschweig has extended the exemption for the use of road salt in order to make the streets safer. Ultimately, it remains to be seen how the weather situation will develop as emergency services in the affected areas make the best of the situation.