Winter weather paralyzes large parts of Bavaria

Snow - Winter weather paralyzes large parts of Bavaria

Sheer mountains of snow, snow clearing vehicles in constant use, chaos in traffic - a heavy onset of winter has paralyzed large parts of Bavaria. The heavy snowfall and black ice led to accidents and long traffic jams on the highways, and Munich and Memmingen airports temporarily suspended flight operations. The Bundesliga home match between FC Bayern Munich and 1. FC Union Berlin in the afternoon was canceled. Numerous railroad lines around the state capital of Munich had to be closed, and passengers in Ulm and Munich spent the night on trains.

In contrast, sledgers, skiers and even some surfers had fun on the Eisbach in Munich's English Garden. An idyllic winter atmosphere prevailed at many Christmas markets. However, some markets had to remain closed due to the risk of snow, for example at the Munich Residenz and the Tollwood Winter Festival.

Airports temporarily suspend operations

At Munich Airport, flight operations have been suspended until 6.00 a.m. on Sunday due to heavy snowfall. This was announced by an airport spokesperson on Saturday morning. Passengers were asked not to arrive at all. Before departing on Sunday, passengers should check the status of their flight with their airline, the spokesperson recommended. The winter service is working to ensure safe operations again. Allgäu Airport in Memmingen also suspended flight operations on Saturday due to the persistent snowfall. The closure was initially scheduled to last until 3.00 pm.

A Lufthansa spokesperson pointed out that the closure of air traffic in Munich would have an impact on other airports. Around 20 aircraft that were due to land in Munich had been diverted to Frankfurt, said a spokesman for airport operator Fraport this morning. According to a spokesperson, Nuremberg Airport also accepted individual aircraft that were no longer able to fly to Munich.

Disruptions to rail traffic

Anyone traveling by train must be prepared for severe disruptions in southern Germany until Monday. A Deutsche Bahn spokeswoman told the German Press Agency on Saturday morning. Among other things, overhead lines are iced over. Munich's main train station will not be accessible all day Saturday. "We can't yet say what the situation will be like over the next few days. We assume that there will still be major restrictions on Sunday," said a Deutsche Bahn spokeswoman. Regiobahn has completely suspended its train services.

The train service was canceled. 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."

Kilometers of traffic jams on Bavaria's freeways

There were numerous accidents on the roads in southern Bavaria - according to the police, most of them resulted in property damage. The heavy snowfall caused long traffic jams on the highways. On the A8 in the direction of Salzburg, a traffic jam near Munich stretched to 30 kilometers at times, said an ADAC spokeswoman on Saturday morning. The A6 and A9 were also badly affected. The automobile club recommended temporarily avoiding non-essential journeys and only driving with winter equipment if possible.

Emergency services on permanent duty - power cuts

The police called on the population to stay at home. The police, rescue services, fire department and snow clearing services were in constant operation. Many smaller roads outside towns were heavily snow-covered or blocked by fallen trees. Fire departments, the Bavarian Red Cross and technical relief organizations were in constant action, including evacuating trains and clearing roofs.

Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder and Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (both CSU) thanked the aid organizations in the state for their persevering efforts. "Please everyone stay healthy!" wrote Söder on Instagram.

Fallen trees also led to power outages in parts of Bavaria. Many thousands of households in Bayernwerk's network area were affected, particularly in the areas of Penzberg, Kolbermoor, Freilassing, Parsberg, Vilshofen, Eggenfelden and Regen, a company spokesperson said. Service teams have been working since the night to repair damage to power lines and restore the power supply.

No skiing on the Zugspitze

Just one day after the start of the ski season on the Zugspitze, rail operations on Germany's highest mountain have been suspended. "We have closed the Zugspitze completely," said a spokeswoman for the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn. Neither the cable car nor the cog railroad could operate. There was a risk of avalanches and trees had fallen.

Castles and zoo closed

In Munich, the Residenz remained closed on Saturday, as did the palaces on Herreninsel in Chiemsee and Linderhof Palace in Ettal (district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen). According to the Bavarian Palace Administration, Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen in the Allgäu region was not affected. In Munich, Hellabrunn Zoo and the craft fair were also closed. In Straubing and Augsburg, the zoo was closed and public transport was temporarily suspended in both cities. Forestry Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) recommended avoiding forests in the south and east of Bavaria due to the risk of snow breakage.

Further snowfall expected

According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the Allgäu is expected to receive the highest amount of fresh snowfall by Saturday afternoon with 30 to 40 centimeters. After the heavy snowfall in the Alps, slightly fewer flakes are expected on Sunday night.

DB operating situation