Intense Cold Grips Berlin: Frosty Start to the Day

Residents of Berlin and Brandenburg are bracing for a notably cold Wednesday morning, with temperatures plunging to a chilling minus 12 degrees Celsius. The German Weather Service has issued warnings regarding the severe frost expected throughout the day.

Overnight, Coschen, located in the Oder-Spree district of Brandenburg, recorded one of the lowest temperatures in Germany at minus 15.5 degrees. The coldest spot, however, was in Sohland an der Spree, Saxony, where temperatures dipped to minus 17.9 degrees. In Berlin, the lowest temperature was registered in Tempelhof at minus 11.3 degrees.

As temperatures continue to drop, the German Weather Service recommends that residents take precautionary measures against the cold. They advise wrapping up warm before heading outdoors and suggest covering plants and draining water from outdoor pipes to prevent freezing. Prolonged exposure to the cold can lead to hypothermia, hence avoiding outdoor activities is strongly advised.

For those encountering vulnerable individuals on the streets, a warmth bus service is available in Berlin every evening from 6 PM to midnight, providing assistance to those in need.

While conditions in Brandenburg remain normal with dry roads, the weather in Berlin shows no signs of increased accident risk according to police reports. As the day progresses, temperatures are expected to rise slightly to a range between 1 and 4 degrees Celsius, with sunshine predicted to prevail. However, as evening approaches, a return to freezing temperatures is anticipated, with lows of minus 7 to minus 11 degrees, and potentially reaching minus 14 degrees in certain areas.

Thursday morning is expected to provide a slight reprieve from the cold, with maximum temperatures ranging from 2 to 4 degrees. However, the weather will shift as clouds gather overnight into Friday, bringing rain from the west. This transition poses a risk for icy conditions, particularly as nighttime temperatures are projected to remain relatively low, around minus 3 degrees in the Niederlausitz region. The ground is likely to stay frozen in many areas.

On Friday morning, rain is expected to continue, with temperatures near the Polish border reaching up to 7 degrees, and around 10 degrees near the Saxony-Anhalt border. The upward trend in temperatures is likely to continue into the weekend, with Saturday promising a mostly sunny day and highs ranging between 8 to 13 degrees, providing a welcome change from the current cold snap.