Winter storm on the way

Arctic air dumped almost 30 centimetres of snow on the Baltic island of Rügen on Friday, as weather experts predicted another storm would likely blanket the rest of the country with plenty of the white stuff over the weekend.

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Street crews worked without pause on Friday to clear roads of snow and drifts that formed due to high winds on the island in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, officials there said. On the northernmost peninsula of Wittow snowdrifts reached heights of 40 to 50 centimetres.

Snow along the Baltic coast is expected to continue until Saturday, accumulating an estimated 36 centimetres – more than typically wintry Bavaria currently has, one meteorologist told broadcaster ARD.

Meanwhile another low pressure system from the Mediterranean called “Daisy” is simultaneously set to cover much of the nation beginning in the south, the German Weather Service (DWD) said.

Light snow will fall there until Friday evening, when brisk winds will begin to move the storm north as temperatures remain between -7 and -1 degrees Celsius. Heavy snow will begin overnight in central Germany, while just a few flakes will fall in the south and northwest. Gale force winds could also be possible at higher attitudes, meteorologist Martin Jonas said.

“Because powdery snow is expected, the snow drifts could become a problem,” Jonas said, adding that the “problem zones” would likely be in central and northern Germany where drifts could reach up to 50 centimetres.

Saturday will dawn under thick cloud cover with more snow in central and southern Germany, spreading to the northern coast and lasting long enough to accumulate to 15 centimetres. Drivers should look out for high snow drifts formed by the stormy, chilly gusts of wind.

The northern coast will only see light snow on Sunday, but the wind will kick up substantial wave activity. Mountainous areas and eastern portions of the country could get another 10 centimetres of new snow within 12 hours. Temperatures will remain between -6 and -3 degrees Celsius as blustery winds continue.

Click here for The Local's weather forecast.