Black ice warning in northern Germany: Be careful on the roads!

Black ice warning in northern Germany: Be careful on the roads!

Winter shows its frosty side in northern Germany. There is currently a warning of an increased risk of slippery roads until Saturday morning. The federal states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg are particularly affected. The German Weather Service (DWD) raises the alarm bells and speaks of “distinctive slipperiness” that can result from freezing rain. Numerous streets and paths, especially in Hamburg, were slippery on Friday evening, which had a negative impact on the movement of cars, cyclists and pedestrians.

Contrary to the ADAC's traffic jam forecasts, which were forecast for the days before and on Christmas, traffic remained trouble-free in the last few days. In Hamburg, traffic could be described as generally relaxed, especially in the evening hours. However, an easterly wind caused ferry traffic on the North Sea to be affected.

Weather conditions and risk of slippery roads

The weather situation in northern Germany remains tense. The DWD warns of slippery roads and paths until Saturday morning. Even if cold, dry air flows into Germany from the east, it brings with it highly foggy visibility and drizzle that causes moisture. Nighttime temperatures fall to values ​​between -1 and -9 degrees, which increases the risk of slippery conditions, especially in the north-eastern half of the republic. In addition, meteorologists expect persistent ice from Saturday afternoon onwards, especially from Thuringia to the Ore Mountains.

The danger of freezing rain is often not immediately visible. According to the experts from the storm center, drivers and pedestrians should be particularly careful. Current warnings have been divided into three levels: orange indicates light to moderate black ice, red indicates severe conditions and purple indicates extreme conditions. The forecasts are continually updated to make the traffic situation as safe as possible. Extreme caution is therefore advised, especially on the motorways.

Additional traffic disruptions

It seems that the traffic situation is not only tense due to the weather. A train accident has led to part of the railway line between Hanover and Göttingen being closed. Commuters should be prepared for alternative buses to be provided. An incident at a high school in Stellingen is particularly worrying, so the police have already launched an investigation.

Overall, people in northern Germany should not only prepare for the winter conditions, but also for possible changes in traffic. The next few hours and days will remain exciting and challenging, and we should all have a “good hand” in dealing with slippery conditions.