- Title: VARIOUS: Freezing snow and winter weather grips Europe
- Date: 5th March 2008
- Summary: (EU) NEAR MECKENHEIM, GERMANY (MARCH 04, 2008) (REUTERS) BREAKDOWN TRUCK AND POLICE VAN BY SIDE OF ROAD STREET SIGN TO COLOGNE SNOW NEXT TO MOTORWAY VARIOUS OF TRUCK ON HARD SHOULDER SNOW PLOUGH BEHIND TRUCK BREAKDOWN TRUCK REVERSING BREAKDOWN MECHANICS NEXT TO TRUCK TRUCK BEING TOWED AWAY DIVERTED TRAFFIC (SOUNDBITE) (German) COLOGNE POLICE SPOKESMAN GERHARD FELDMANN SAYING: "As predicted by the German Weather Service we had a very strong snowfall starting in the second half of the night. By 5.45 (MET) this morning we had snow cover up to 15 centimetres high." TRAFFIC DRIVING UNDER MOTORWAY BRIDGE
- Embargoed: 20th March 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Weather
- Reuters ID: LVA58GP5EGQ5G044AMS69HPL4STI
- Story Text: An unseasonable cold snap early on Tuesday morning (March 4) brought wintery conditions and a blanket of snow to many parts of Europe.
Snow and ice took away whatever impressions of spring might have developed in the German state of North Rhine Westphalia.
The freezing conditions brought chaos to Europe's road network, on the German Autobahn near Aachen a large truck skidded into crash barriers on the side of the motorway which caused large tail backs.
Speaking to Reuters at the scene of the truck accident, police spokesman Gerhard Feldmann said that there had been a very heavy snowfall overnight.
"As predicted by the German Weather Service we had very strong snowfall starting in the second half of the night. By 5.45 (MET) this morning we had a snow cover up to 15 centimetres high" he said.
Temperatures had dropped down to three degrees Centigrade overnight.
Up to 20 centimetres of snow fell, causing slippery conditions on the roads.
Officials said several cars in Germany had been crushed after trees that had been cracked by the storm dubbed "Emma" at the weekend, were not able to carry the fresh load of snow and broke down.
On Belgium's E42 motorway that runs to Luxembourg, the heavy snowfall also brought chaos and long queues as trucks found it hard to grip on some of the steeper stretches of road.
Away from the congestion of the motorway in Hautes Fagnes snow fell for the first time in two years leaving a 25 centimetre deep blanket of snow, perfect for skiing.
"It's true that for skiing this is ideal snow." said ski instructor Alexandre Fechir. "We can't leave tracks because it is very light snow. If we make mechanical tracks the snow will pack down very strongly and will arrive in the lakes with a relatively warm temperature so we risk seriously damaging the slopes," he added.
One walker said that she was taking full advantage of the unseasonable weather and the picture-postcard scene.
"We say we will go, we will go for a walk, get some fresh air, and take advantage of the scenery. Yes, yes, we will take advantage of it."
The snow was a new experience for one set of tourists who had travelled to Belgium from Brazil.
"It is the first time I hold snow in my entire life." one Brazilian man said, "I used to think it was heavy but it is really very light. It is like cotton."
Wintery winds also brought snow showers to the south of England, a light dusting of snow covering fields in Dartmoor.
Meteorologists predict similar winter weather for the next few days. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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