Stand: January 2, 2025, 10:05 a.m
Von: Dominik Jung
PressSplit
A snow roller is moving over Germany from the north. Experts warn of slippery roads and chaotic traffic conditions. But how long will the snow last?
Munich – The weather spectacle begins on Thursday evening (January 2nd): polar cold air flows into Germany and meets a moist warm front from the west. “The air mass boundary becomes the perfect stage for a massive snow roll,” explains meteorologist Dominik Jung from wetter.net.
Onset of winter in January: “Snow roller” comes north into the low mountain ranges and higher altitudes
Rain quickly turns into snow, especially in low mountain ranges and higher altitudes. Roads are becoming dangerously slippery and the first accidents will not be long in coming. The snow front then moves further south and east.
Weather forecasts show a lot of snow on the first weekend of January – these regions are affected
After a brief calming of the weather on Friday (January 3rd), the big snow spectacle starts on Saturday (January 4th): a dense snow front spreads from West to East Germany. According to current forecasts, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Thuringia, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony are particularly affected.
Depending on the region, up to 20 cm of snow could fall. The traffic chaos is inevitable because, according to calculations, the snowfall will continue well into Sunday. For many regions, this means winter conditions that have rarely been experienced in recent years.
After the snow roller there will be a significant change in the weather
But the snow doesn’t last. Milder air masses will be pushing into Germany from Sunday onwards. A thaw begins in the Black Forest and other higher regions – temperatures there rise to 10 degrees.
Where there was still a blanket of snow in the morning, often only slush remains in the evening. The major melting also brings slippery roads and the threat of flooding. The rapid change from cold to heat represents a significant challenge for drivers.
wetter.net – the weather in a nutshell!
This article was created in a content partnership with wetter.net. wetter.net offers you everything you need to know about weather and climate. On our pages you will find worldwide city and location forecasts for the next 14 days, with a 1-hour time resolution for the first 7 days and a 3-hour time resolution for the following days. Weather forecasts, precipitation radar, measured values, weather warnings, Germany weather and weather news provide information about current developments as well as the coming hours and days.
Uncertainties in the weather forecast: “Weather conditions are extremely complex”
The snowball remains a hotly debated topic among weather experts. While the US model GFS focuses on snowfall, the European ECMWF model shows partly different scenarios. “One thing is certain: the weather situation is extremely complex and the exact development remains subject to uncertainty,” says the technical analysis by qualified meteorologist Jung. Winter fans can hope, but the real conditions could vary greatly depending on the region. But one thing is certain: the weekend will be exciting and a real winter thriller is guaranteed.
