A widespread and prolonged period of hazardous winter weather is forecast for bavaria through the weekend, prompting school closures and preparations across transportation networks. Storm “Elli” is bringing freezing rain, snow, and strong winds to the region, with Lower Bavaria expected to experience the most important impacts beginning Thursday evening. The German Weather Service (DWD) warns of perhaps dangerous conditions, including an increasing avalanche risk in the Alps, and residents are urged to monitor forecasts and heed local advisories.
Freezing Rain Expected Across Parts of Bavaria Through Friday Morning
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Parts of Bavaria are bracing for several hours of persistent freezing rain expected to last until around Friday morning, according to preliminary information from the German Weather Service (DWD). The affected area stretches from the Allgäu region through Upper Bavaria to southern Middle Franconia and the Upper Palatinate – with Lower Bavaria expected to be hit hardest.
The disruption is already impacting education, with multiple schools in the Upper Palatinate canceling in-person classes on Friday due to the hazardous conditions. A list of affected cities and districts is available on the Bavarian State Ministry of Education’s reporting portal (external link). Officials cited “acute icy conditions” as the reason for the closures, as detailed in a report on school closures in Bavaria.
Meanwhile, western Franconia and Swabia are forecast to experience only temporary icy conditions, while areas in the Alpine foothills may remain relatively clear and dry.
Rail Service Prepared for Winter Weather
Deutsche Bahn (DB) in Bavaria has intensified its winter preparations this year. Approximately 8,140 of the region’s more than 10,000 rail switches are equipped with heating systems to prevent freezing, the company said.
To combat snowdrifts, heavy locomotives will be used to clear paths through the snow for subsequent trains, a DB spokesperson explained. Even a thin layer of ice on overhead lines caused by freezing rain typically doesn’t pose a significant problem. However, the railway acknowledged that even with extensive preparation, it cannot fully protect against all weather events.
Storm ‘Elli’ Brings Threat of Ice, Snow, and Strong Winds
The challenging weather is being attributed to Storm “Elli,” which is bringing new precipitation to the Free State starting Thursday evening. This precipitation is expected to turn to rain in many areas overnight into Friday.
Ten to 20 centimeters of new snow are forecast for the Middle Franconian mountain region, Upper Franconia, the Upper Palatinate extending into Lower Bavaria, and the Oberallgäu region. Northern parts of the state could also see snowfall, continuing through Friday. The storm is also expected to bring icy conditions to western Franconia and Swabia, though these are expected to be temporary.
Temperatures are hovering around freezing, with highs of 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) possible in the Alpine foothills and lows of -6 degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight. Strong winds are also anticipated, particularly in the mountains, with potential for hurricane-force gusts in the mid-level Alps.
Avalanche Risk Increasing
The risk of avalanches is also on the rise. The Bavarian Avalanche Warning Service anticipates up to 10 centimeters of new snow overnight, with as much as 15 centimeters in the high-altitude areas of the Allgäu Alps. Combined with strong winds, reaching up to 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour) in gusts, this creates conditions for increased avalanche danger. Experts warn that wind-driven snow accumulation will exacerbate the risk, particularly for snowshoe hikers and ski tourers who have seen limited fresh snowfall in Bavaria this winter.
“With stormy winds and new snow, the avalanche risk continues to increase,” the experts stated.
Return to Frosty Conditions Expected Over the Weekend
Snow is forecast to return overnight into Saturday, particularly in the mid-level mountains and the Alps, with temperatures ranging from -1 to 4 degrees Celsius (30 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit). However, this cold snap will be brief. The DWD anticipates even colder temperatures overnight into Sunday, with lows of -4 to -9 degrees Celsius (25 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit), and as low as -13 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of northern Bavaria.
With information from dpa
