Germany: Adverse winter weather forecast across much of the country through at least early Jan. 6 /update 1

Adverse winter weather conditions are forecast across much of Germany through at least early Jan. 6. Hazardous travel conditions are likely due to reduced visibility and slippery roads. Sporadic power outages are likely throughout the affected areas.

As of Jan. 5, the German Meteorological Service (DWD) has issued the following weather warnings across the country:

• Red black ice warnings (the second-highest level on a four-tier scale): Across eastern Hesse, southern Thuringia, and eastern and northeastern Bavaria states.

• Orange black ice warnings: Across far-northern Baden-Wurrtemberg, eastern, central, and northwestern Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, southwestern Saxony, southern Saxony-Anhalt, most of Lower Saxony, and northern Thuringia states.

• Orange snowfall warnings: Parts of northwestern, central, and eastern Bavaria, and southern Thuringia states.

• Orange heavy rainfall warnings: Parts of southeastern and eastern North Rhine-Westphalia, and southeastern Lower Saxony states.

• Orange strong wind warnings: Parts of far-southern Bavaria, southwestern Baden-Wurrtemberg, southern Thuringia, far-southeastern Lower Saxony, far-western Saxony-Anhalt, and western Schleswig-Holstein.

• Yellow snowfall warnings: Across northern and eastern North Rhine-Westphalia, northern Hesse, northern and eastern Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hamburg, and southern Schleswig-Holstein states.

• Yellow strong wind warnings: Parts of far-southern Bavaria, northern Saarland, central, eastern, and northern Rhineland-Palatinate, southeastern and southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northern Thuringia, northwestern and southern Lower Saxony, western Saxony-Anhalt, southern Saxony, northern Schleswig-Holstein, and northern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern states.

• Yellow frost warnings: Across central, northern, and eastern regions.

Officials could update and possibly extend the coverage of weather alerts over the coming days.

The winter weather will likely cause ground and air transport disruptions in the region over the coming days. Traffic and commercial trucking delays are possible along regional highways. Dangerous and challenging driving conditions are also likely on secondary and rural roads in the affected states as maintenance crews prioritize clearing major routes. Authorities could close stretches of highway if driving conditions become too hazardous. Gusty winds may threaten to topple high-profile vehicles throughout the affected area. Flight delays and cancellations are likely due to ground stops and deicing operations at regional airports.