After the sun comes the snow: a cold weekend in Bavaria

Snow is coming back to Bavaria, at least temporarily: A cold front from the northwest is expected to reach Bavaria on Friday, bringing some cold days. Expect severe frosts and temperatures as low as minus ten degrees in the Alps.

Fresh snow is expected, especially in the Alps and mountains. A few snow showers are possible, especially on Saturday, but also in other parts of Bavaria. According to the German weather service, the weather change should last through Sunday into Monday night. The last of the snow showers are likely Sunday afternoon.

Severe winter storms are not expected

However, the situation here can’t be compared to the current winter storms in the northern United States – and there’s no connection. This is what BR24 meteorologist Michael Sachweh points out: If a cold front hits the US, many would believe that the cold air should reach us across the Atlantic, sometimes aided by prevailing westerly winds. . However, according to Sachwe, the opposite is often the case: during the so-called “Atlantic Thermal Oscillation”, atmospheric currents on this side of the Atlantic react with a counter-movement to this intrusion of northerly winds, i.e. Light winds from south or south-west.

After the onset of cold air in the US, we should assume that milder weather will continue or worsen. But that’s not the case: it’s still cold here on weekends. Reason: The “Atlantic Heat Swing” rules apply only to cold air that hits the entire United States. However, for now, icy arctic air is only affecting the extreme northern part of the US, with milder winds in the center and south of the country, says BR24 meteorologist Sachwe.

Extreme weather in the US

In fact, large parts of the United States are currently dominated by extreme weather. A winter storm front stretches more than 4,000 kilometers from the west in the north to the east coast of the country, while a heat wave in the south is causing record temperatures, the US Weather Service said.

Accordingly, temperatures in the northern states of Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota were recorded as minus 22 degrees Celsius. Weather warnings are in effect for more than 65 million people. Several major roads were closed in Minnesota due to severe snowstorms and poor visibility. More than 700,000 homes in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin were without power at times. Many flights – including from Germany – were canceled or delayed.