Amidst the chilling temperatures and snowfall brought by Storm Goretti in the UK, Europe is also facing severe winter conditions as Storm Elli sweeps across the continent. In Germany, where temperatures are plummeting to -30 degrees, officials in Hamburg have enacted a ban on burials due to frozen ground making grave digging nearly impossible, leading to delays of at least two weeks for funerals.
Beyond impacting funeral services, the harsh weather has disrupted transportation networks nationwide, with the railway operator Deutsche Bahn warning against long-distance train travel under the hazardous conditions. Furthermore, the Christian Democrat Union (CDU) in Germany was compelled to cancel its annual kick-off meeting due to severe weather forecasts, train cancellations, and flight disruptions.
The German national meteorological service, the DWD, issued a statement cautioning about upcoming snowfall in regions including Bavaria, with predictions of new snow accumulation ranging from three to 10 centimeters in various areas, and up to 15 centimeters within a short duration.
While Germany and France are enduring strong winds and snow from Storm Elli, the UK is facing the impact of Storm Goretti. The Met Office has warned of possible wintry weather following a brief respite on Saturday. Met Office Chief Forecaster Steve Willington advised of snowfall expected in parts of Scotland and northern England on Sunday, with accumulations of 2-5cm at lower levels and up to 10-20cm over higher terrain, potentially leading to continued disruptions. Southern and central England and Wales are likely to experience rain on Sunday, adding to the challenging weather conditions across the region.