Snow returns with a traffic-halting vengeance

As snow hit Germany hard again in Friday, Frankfurt airport cancelled more than 20 flights and police reported car accidents across the south. The white weather is set to last over the weekend, said the German Weather Service (DWD).

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By Friday morning, 12 flights due to arrive at Frankfurt airport and 14 due to leave had been cancelled. A giant snowstorm expected on the east coast of the US was at least partly to blame, while a spokeswoman said that over the morning more flights could be cancelled.

In the north Swabia region, more than 100 mostly minor accidents occurred between Thursday night and Friday morning on the B2 and B25 roads, the Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung said.

Autobahns 8 and 96 were also affected by snow, causing dozens of minor accidents. And across Bavaria morning commuters found themselves stuck in traffic.

Snow was, the DWD said, likely to keep falling over the weekend putting an end to the brief spring-ish respite that had raised some hopes the during the week. By Friday afternoon some heavy-hit parts of the country could have 10 centimetres of snow and there will be an increased risk of icy roads everywhere.

Temperatures should remain between -2C and 3C, making Friday a little chillier than the rest of the week.

During the night, odd sprinkles of snow could fall anywhere in Germany, but rain is more likely in coastal areas. It should be relatively cold with lows of between 0C and -7C. In hillier areas it could even drop as low as -10C.

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Saturday is set to be mixed with more snow in cloudy areas – particularly the southern and eastern states as well as in the Alps. Highs should stay between -3C and 2C, with a bit of a breeze.

Snow should continue to fall through Saturday night. In some areas though, the clouds may lift, sending temperatures plummeting to -10C and increasing risk of a thick frost. In snowy areas there will be highs of -1C.

By Sunday, snow should be largely limited to the west and south of the country. There could be a chance of sunshine in the east and central states with temperatures again between -3C and 2C.

Nightfall should bring snow along the Baltic coast and in the southwest, while everywhere else will likely be treated to a clear, crisp nigh with temperatures of between -1C and -10C.

Monday, which in the Rhineland, marks the Rosenmontag bank holiday, should be very cloudy and snowy in parts. Rain is expected in the west and southwest, dampening the last of this year's Karneval festivities.

Eastern and northern states should stick around freezing temperatures, while everywhere else will be more comfortable at between 0C and 4C. In the Upper Rhine area it could even be 5C. These figures will fall back down below zero after sunset, though.

DAPD/The Local/jcw