Longest snowy period in 30 years set to end soon

The longest snowy period in the last 30 years could end next week, meteorologists from the German Weather Service (DWD) reported over the weekend.

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Even as meteorologists predicted continued winter weather for the next eight days across the country, they said that weather trends point to milder weather to follow.

Germany is in the midst of the longest snowy period since the winter of 1978/79. The snowy crust has remained on the ground without melting for some five weeks.

While residents can look forward to warmer weather to come, they’ll still have to dress warmly this week, the DWD said.

Arctic air brought by a low pressure system in southern Scandinavia will bring further snow showers on Monday, with up to 10 centimetres expected at higher altitudes, the weather service said. Temperatures will remain cold, between 1 degree Celsius in the northwest and -3 in the southeast.

More snow is expected overnight, and Tuesday will dawn cloudy and snowy in the western half of the country, where up to 10 centimetres of snow could fall. Highs will range between 1 degree and -4 degrees.

As nightfall comes, the snow will spread to the east, while lower altitudes in the west could see rainfall. More heavy cloud cover will start the day on Wednesday, as snow continues to fall across the nation. Up to 15 centimetres are expected in mountainous regions, but more rain could come down in western valleys.