No sooner has the massive power outage in south-west Berlin been dealt with than the next emergency situation is on the horizon. Despite early warnings, this development cannot be stopped. With the storm depression “Ellie”, an extremely turbulent weather situation awaits us from Friday. The German Weather Service (DWD) is expecting up to ten centimetres of fresh snow, freezing rain and wind gusts of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour. A DWD meteorologist in Potsdam speaks of an “extreme situation”. The effects will also have a significant impact on traffic: Experts are warning of chaos on the roads as well as dangerous conditions on the highways. The north and east of Germany will be particularly affected, with temperatures dropping to minus six degrees in persistent frost.
With the expected sub-zero temperatures, there is a risk of dangerous black ice in places. The federal highway authority Autobahn GmbH has announced that drivers should expect road closures, traffic jams and temporary speed limits. The winter services are already working around the clock to keep the roads passable. Road users are urged to adapt their driving style to the winter conditions. Driving slowly and with foresight as well as keeping a sufficient safety distance are urgently required. Non-essential journeys should be postponed if possible. There are also considerable restrictions on rail traffic: Train cancellations and delays have already been announced. Express trains will have to reduce their speed and several connections in the north and northeast of Germany will be canceled as early as Thursday afternoon.
Not only the transport companies are preparing for the extreme weather conditions – hospitals are also expecting an increased number of patients. “The current weather conditions pose a particular challenge and pose an increased risk of falls and accidents,” explains Bernhard Fleischer, senior physician in charge of the Central Emergency Department at the Ernst von Bergmann Hospital in Potsdam. The emergency department is prepared accordingly in terms of organization and staffing. The storm is expected to last until Saturday, and further snowstorms are possible. Storm “Ellie” is not expected to gradually calm down until Sunday. However, milder temperatures are not in sight: temperatures will remain frosty and can drop to minus 15 degrees at night.