Heavy snowfall paralyzes Bavaria

The first snow chaos of this winter has southern Germany firmly in its grip. Airports are closed and the police are reporting numerous icy accidents. There is an avalanche risk in the Bavarian Alps. "Stay at home if possible!" is the urgent advice.

Heavy snowfall is causing traffic chaos in southern Germany, events are being canceled - and there is an increased risk of avalanches in the Bavarian Alps. Above 1,600 meters, warning level three on the five-level scale is in effect, meaning there is a considerable risk of avalanches, according to the avalanche warning center of the Bavarian State Office for the Environment.

The main problem is the fresh snow. Even a single winter sports enthusiast can trigger slab avalanches. In rocky, steep terrain, loose snow avalanches could come down on their own. In some cases, sliding snow avalanches can also trigger themselves on steep meadow slopes. "Overall, the snow depth is above average for the time of year at all altitudes," write the avalanche experts.

No getting through despite snow chains

There were also power outages in parts of Bavaria. Flight operations were temporarily suspended at Munich and Allgäu airports in Memmingen. FC Bayern Munich's Bundesliga home match against 1. FC Union Berlin was canceled. Train lines around Munich were closed and many passengers had to spend the night in trains. Snow and black ice lead to accidents and long traffic jams on the highways. People in other federal states are also feeling the consequences, albeit far less severely.

"In some districts in southern Bavaria, the emergency services are reaching their limits despite snow chains and four-wheel drive - without the support of the mountain rescue service, it is sometimes impossible to get through," said a spokesperson for the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK). The organization joins the call of the police headquarters of Upper Bavaria South: "Stay at home if possible!" The risk of accidents is immensely increased.

The BRK and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) have been helping to evacuate trains and looking after the occupants of broken-down vehicles since the night. In addition, masses of snow are being shoveled off roofs and cars and trucks involved in accidents are being cleared from the roads. And as tempting as the winter forest may seem in some places, we strongly advise against entering it. "Many trees can no longer withstand the heavy weight of the wet snow in their crowns at the moment and could topple over or collapse without warning," warned Bavaria's Forestry Minister Michaela Kaniber.

Thousands of households without electricity

A number of households in Bayernwerk's network area are without power, according to a spokesperson. The area around Munich is one of the main areas affected. Trees had fallen on power lines and some lines had been damaged or torn by the weight of the snow alone. On Saturday afternoon, it was reported that the service teams were constantly on the move, but that many thousands of households were still affected. In addition, new disruptions were constantly being added.

Rail traffic in southern Germany is experiencing widespread cancellations and delays. Among other things, overhead lines are iced over, said a railroad spokeswoman. Munich Central Station is not accessible. "We can't yet say what the situation will be like over the next few days," said a Deutsche Bahn spokeswoman. Serious disruptions are expected until Monday.

At Ulm main station, for example, an ICE train was converted into an overnight train. The railroad announced: "All passengers who wish to postpone their journey planned for December 2 and 3 in southern Germany due to the onset of winter in southern Germany can use their ticket at a later date." In addition, Deutsche Bahn has set up a hotline on 08000 996633, which those affected can call if they have any questions.

Munich airport snowed in

Flight operations at Munich Airport are to remain suspended until 6 a.m. on Sunday due to the weather conditions. Passengers have been asked not to arrive at all. Before departing on Sunday, passengers should check the status of their flight with their airline, a spokesperson recommended. Allgäu Airport in Memmingen also temporarily suspended flight operations on Saturday. A Lufthansa spokesperson pointed out that the closure of air traffic in Munich had an impact on other airports. There were also weather-related disruptions to air traffic in other European countries.

There were numerous accidents, especially on roads in southern Bavaria. According to the police, most of them resulted in property damage. There were also long traffic jams on the highways. On the A8 in the direction of Salzburg, a traffic jam already stretched for 30 kilometers near Munich, said an ADAC spokeswoman. Snow and icy conditions are also causing problems on the roads in large parts of Baden-Württemberg. A 54-year-old driver died in an accident on a slippery road in Emmingen-Liptingen.

Stop for soccer and Christmas markets

Due to safety risks and the traffic situation, FC Bayern Munich's home game against 1. FC Union Berlin scheduled for the afternoon was canceled. FC Bayern's traditional Christmas visits to the fan clubs scheduled for Sunday have also been canceled. "It's incredibly snowy, I've rarely seen anything like it," said player Thomas Müller in a video message. The fan club visits are to be rescheduled for January 2024 as part of a New Year's reception.

Many places also had to forego a market stroll with mulled wine: A number of Christmas markets in Bavaria remained closed on Saturday. Zoos such as Straubing Zoo and Augsburg Zoo were also closed. According to the city, there was a risk of snow breakage in the facilities. Public transport was also temporarily suspended in both cities. Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich was also closed on Saturday.