After an unusually mild autumn, winter is just around the corner: several weather models are forecasting the first snow cover of the season for the weekend in north-eastern Germany. In the south and west, however, it will remain frost-free for a while.

ntv: After the sunny autumn weather, winter should now come to Germany. what’s up

Björn Alexander: The sunny autumn is definitely coming to an end. But the first push of winter into the lowlands this season will only be regional.

Which areas are affected?

More intense night frosts, cold easterly winds and snowflakes down to the lowlands are mainly concentrated in the regions north-east of the Elbe. In the south and west, on the other hand, it is noticeably milder. A so-called border weather situation is looming.

How does this happen?

In principle, we have two major weather systems that will influence our weather in the coming days. On the one hand the former hurricane “Nicole”, which sends humid air from the Atlantic to Central Europe. On the other hand, the combination of Scandinavia high “Eric” and Eastern Europe low “Sue”. As a result, winter air is transported from the east towards Germany. In between, an air mass boundary forms.

With snow and ice – is there a timetable for the small onset of winter?

We’ll take a look at the development on Thursday and Friday. Thursday is often changeable or wet and windy, and stormy on the coast. Up to 16 degrees are still possible in the south-west, while it is significantly cooler in the north-east and east with sometimes no more than 4 degrees. Things get exciting when it comes to snow from Friday night onwards.

With what details?

They rate the different weather models differently. But according to the German or European weather model, for example, the first thin layer of snow of the season forms from the north of Berlin up to the Baltic Sea. Slippery weather is also to be expected at temperatures around freezing point.

And then?

It will be particularly exciting along the Elbe, for example from Hamburg to Magdeburg and across to Brandenburg and Saxony. Snow and sleet are likely – freezing rain with the corresponding slippery weather is also conceivable. Only the intensity is still unclear. If the European model is right, there will be a few centimeters of fresh snow – with the corresponding obstacles on the roads. However, it feels like it will be wintry in the north-east one way or another.

Why?

Because there is a brisk easterly wind blowing at peak temperatures just above freezing. As a result, the perceived temperature, the wind chill, on Friday evening in the north-east and east is often between minus 2 and minus 7 degrees. And the measured values ??also drop to 0 degrees and below on Saturday night.

Where is it coldest?

The weather computers on the border with Poland, where the coldest air pervades, are currently predicting lows of minus 6 degrees directly on the ground.

Is the rest of Germany even aware of the onset of winter?

Little to nothing. It will also be unstable in the northwest and south on Friday, with rain and cool air. But at 10 to 12 degrees on the Rhine, for example, there is no sign of winter. Flakes can only mix in on the higher mountains. On Saturday, the snow line in the rest of the country will also continue to fall. On the other hand, the precipitation is decreasing overall.

What is the general trend at the weekend?

Saturday brings some snow in places in the east and on the mountains above about 600 meters. Overall, however, it is often dry and especially in the north also friendly. In addition, the temperatures reach between 0 degrees in the east and 10 degrees on the Upper Rhine. The wind is generally decreasing. On Sunday, the next low spur follows from the west, while it continues more beautifully towards the east.