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First snow showers: Winter has arrived early in Germany

October 14, 2015

It snowed in some regions of Germany, including low-lying areas, on Tuesday night (13.10.2015). But weather experts say the cold snap won't last.

https://p.dw.com/p/1Gnj7
Sunflower covered with snow, Copyright: Jörg Taron/dpa
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Taron

The Alps, northern Bavaria, Thüringen, the Vogtland region and the Erzgebirge saw most of the snow. Snow in higher regions is normal for this time of year, but this time lower lying regions also obtained some snow and that is unusual. The north west of the country also experienced some snowfall and frost, but the snow soon melted again as the ground is too warm.

Germany's northernmost peak, the Brocken, is covered in snow. And with temperatures of minus 4 degrees Celsius (25 degrees Fahrenheit), it probably won't melt. The heaviest snowfall, however, was in the Alps with 28 centimeters (11 inches) of new snow. But the ski season doesn't open there for another month or so.

"It doesn't happen every year that we get snow falling in flatter areas," meteorologist Christian Herold said. While it is normal for snow to fall in Germany in October, particularly in the central uplands, Herold described the low temperatures as very unusual.

Germany will be free of frost again in the coming days. This was just a brief taste of winter.

ks/pw (dpa)