Erfurt/Leipzig (dpa/th) – Winter is knocking on the door in Thuringia. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the first snow of the season is expected in the Thuringian Forest this weekend. There is also a risk of frost and ice on the roads. Responsible for this is a cold front, which moves with a precipitation area from the north over Thuringia, as meteorologist Jens Oehmichen said on Friday. Up to five centimeters of snow are possible above 500 meters until Saturday. There may also be a thin layer of snow in some areas at lower altitudes.
There is frost at night – and even on Saturday it will be cold with daily maximum temperatures between minus three and zero degrees, as Oehmichen said. Only on Sunday afternoon will milder air come to Thuringia again. “However, it remains frosty on the ridges and further light snowfall is to be expected on Sunday evening.”
Infrastructure Minister Susanna Karawanskij (left) sees the winter service in Thuringia well prepared for the cold season. “There are enough clearing and gritting vehicles ready, snow fences are being erected, and sufficient road salt ensures that the roads in Bavaria are reliably passable.” According to the information, around 234 winter service vehicles will be used on federal and state roads this winter.
According to the information, 20 snow blowers and 20 wheel loaders are also available as additional snow clearing equipment. The construction of 239 kilometers of snow fences on exposed sections of the route has also already begun. The winter service on federal and state roads outside of towns in Thuringia covers a distance of 1,119 kilometers of federal roads and 2,965 kilometers of state roads.
Around 91,750 tons of road salt and 1,200 tons of brine were stored, it said. Experience has shown that these amounts are sufficient.
