Central Europe: Adverse winter weather forecast across Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands through at least Jan. 18 /update 1

Adverse winter weather conditions are forecast across parts of Central Europe through at least Jan. 18. Snowfall accumulations of 5-35 cm (2-14 inches) are likely from Luxembourg through western and central Germany Jan. 17, with lesser accumulations possible in surrounding areas. Icy conditions are forecast to impact much of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands over the coming days. Gusty winds and snowfall may combine to produce blowing and drifting snow in parts of the affected region. Hazardous travel conditions are likely due to slippery roads and reduced visibility. Sporadic power outages are possible throughout the affected areas.

As of Jan. 16, the countries' respective meteorological agencies had issued the following weather warnings for the coming days:

• Purple black ice warnings (the highest level on a four-tier scale): Across Saarland and parts of northern Baden-Wurttemberg, southern Hesse, and southern Rhineland-Palatinate states in Germany.

• Red snowfall warnings: Parts of central Hesse, southern North Rhine-Westphalia, and northern Rhineland-Palatinate states in Germany.

• Red black ice warnings: Across the southern half of Germany.

• Orange heavy snowfall warnings: Across Saarland and parts of northern Bavaria, eastern, northern, and south-central Hesse, southern North Rhine-Westphalia, central Rhineland-Palatinate, and central and western Thuringia states in Germany and across the northern half of Luxembourg.

• Orange ice/snow warnings: Across Hainaut, Liege, Luxembourg, and Namur provinces in Belgium.

• Orange ice warnings: Across Central Bohemian, Hradec Kralove, Karlovy Vary, Liberec, Pardubice, Plzen, Prague, and Usti nad Labem and parts of northern South Bohemian and northern Olomouc regions in the Czech Republic and across Luxembourg.

• Orange strong wind warnings: Parts of southern Bavaria State, northern Schleswig-Holstein State, and far northern and northwestern Lower Saxony State in Germany.

• Yellow snowfall warnings: Across Liberec and the northern half of Usti nad Labem regions in the Czech Republic, parts of far northern Germany, the rest of central, eastern, and western Germany not under red or orange heavy snowfall warnings, and across the southern half of Luxembourg.

• Yellow ice/snow warnings: Across Brussels, Flemish Brabant, Limburg, and Walloon Brabant in Belgium and across most of the Netherlands.

• Yellow ice warnings: Across Vysocina Region, the rest of South Bohemian Region not under orange warnings, and parts of northwestern and western Moravian-Silesian, central Olomouc, and northern and western South Moravian regions in the Czech Republic and across the northern half of Germany.

• Yellow strong wind warnings: Parts of far northern and northwestern Lower Saxony and central Schleswig-Holstein states in Germany.

• Yellow frost warnings: Across Germany.

Authorities will likely issue new alerts and update or rescind existing advisories as weather conditions change over the coming days.

The winter weather will likely cause air and ground transport disruptions in the affected areas over the coming days. As of Jan. 16, Lufthansa (LH) had canceled many of its flights scheduled to operate via Munich and Frankfurt Jan. 17, and German national railway company Deutsche Bahn had said that it was preparing for weather-related impacts on its regional and long-distance trains Jan. 17. Additionally, adverse winter weather conditions have reportedly caused hundreds of flight delays and dozens of cancellations at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) as of Jan. 16. Additional flight delays and cancellations are likely at AMS and other airports in the region over the coming days due to ground stops and deicing operations.

Moreover, traffic and commercial trucking delays are possible along regional highways. Difficult and potentially dangerous driving conditions are also likely on secondary and rural roadways in the affected areas as maintenance crews prioritize clearing major routes. Authorities could close stretches of highway if driving conditions become too hazardous. Gusty winds in some areas may threaten to topple high-profile vehicles.