Tourexpi
Ice storm brings widespread disruption across western Germany
A severe ice storm swept across western Germany on
Monday, triggering major disruptions to air, rail and road transport and
prompting school closures in several federal states. Freezing rain created
hazardous ice conditions, leading to more than 100 flight cancellations at Frankfurt
Airport and the temporary shift of thousands of students to distance learning.
Weather authorities issue high-level warnings
The German Weather Service issued its second-highest
warning level for large parts of the country as storm Gunda brought rain that
froze instantly on contact with cold ground surfaces. Meteorologists described
the situation as a widespread ice emergency and warned of life-threatening
travel conditions.
Drivers were advised to avoid non-essential journeys.
For unavoidable trips, the Weather Service recommended travelling with a full
fuel tank and carrying blankets and warm drinks in case of prolonged delays or
emergencies.
Schools move to remote learning
Schools remained closed on Monday in North
Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Bremen, with lessons continuing online.
Education Minister Dorothee Feller emphasised that the closures did not
constitute a holiday. “This is not a school holiday,” she told public
broadcaster WDR, explaining that classes had moved to distance learning to
prevent injuries during potentially dangerous journeys to school.
Roads and railways severely affected
Icy conditions led to significant congestion on
several motorways in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse,
with multiple accidents reported, particularly in the Sauerland region.
Commuters experienced severe delays as road conditions deteriorated during the
morning rush hour.
Rail transport was also heavily disrupted nationwide. Deutsche
Bahn reduced train speeds on several major routes, including connections
between Hannover and Frankfurt, Wolfsburg and Berlin, as well as Cologne and
Frankfurt, in response to icy tracks and safety concerns.
Flights cancelled at Frankfurt Airport
At Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation
hubs, 102 of the 1,052 flights scheduled for Monday were cancelled. A
spokesperson for Fraport said further cancellations could not be ruled out as
weather conditions continued to worsen throughout the day.
Passengers were urged to check the status of their
flights before travelling to the airport, allow extra time for their journey
and arrive at least three hours before departure. Airport authorities warned
that ongoing freezing rain could continue to affect operations and access
routes.
The ice storm highlighted the vulnerability of
transport and public services to extreme winter weather, as authorities across
Germany remained on alert for further deterioration in conditions.
Image
Credit: © AA
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