Winter’s Icy Grip: Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia Experience Coldest Night of the Season
The icy fingers of winter tightened their grip on eastern Germany overnight, with Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia experiencing the coldest night of the season. The German Weather Service reported double-digit sub-zero temperatures across all three states.
Record-Breaking Chills
Bertsdorf, nestled in the Zittauer Mountains of Saxony, emerged as the frigid epicenter, recording a bone-chilling -17.3 degrees Celsius (-0.93 Fahrenheit). Neighboring Thuringia saw Schleiz take the frost-bitten crown with a temperature of -12.8 degrees Celsius (9.16 Fahrenheit). In Saxony-Anhalt, the mercury plummeted to -16.5 degrees Celsius (2.3 Fahrenheit) at the Oberharz weather station in Stiege am Brocken.
Pia Kreter, a meteorologist at the German Weather Service in Leipzig, emphasized that these bone-chilling temperatures were measured at 6:00 AM. She cautioned that they could drop even further as the night wore on. The icy grip is expected to continue its relentless hold over the region for the next two nights.
Historical Context
While the current frigid conditions are noteworthy, they pale in comparison to the all-time Kältepole (coldest point) records for the three regions. In Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, the February record-lows were set in 2012. Stiege shivered at an astounding -25.7 degrees Celsius (-14.26 Fahrenheit), while Bertsdorf endured a bone-chilling -24.1 degrees Celsius (-11.38 Fahrenheit).
Thuringia’s coldest February night on record occurred even further back in time. On February 10, 1956, Schleiz recorded a spine-tingling -25.0 degrees Celsius (-13.0 Fahrenheit).
Impact on Daily Life
The extreme cold has brought with it a host of challenges for residents in the affected areas. Schools have been forced to close, public transportation has been disrupted, and outdoor activities have been canceled. The elderly and the homeless are particularly vulnerable to the life-threatening conditions.
Road Closures and Transportation Delays
Icy roads have made driving treacherous, resulting in numerous road closures and accidents. Train and bus services have also been delayed or canceled due to the cold and icy tracks.
Emergency Services on High Alert
Emergency services are on high alert, responding to an increase in calls related to frostbite, hypothermia, and other cold-related injuries. Shelters have been opened to provide warmth and shelter for those in need.
Outlook
The German Weather Service predicts that the cold spell will persist for the next few days, with temperatures expected to remain below freezing. However, there is a glimmer of relief on the horizon. By the end of the week, a gradual warming trend is forecast, offering some respite from the icy grip of winter.
