Fog to blanket southern Germany into Saturday

By Eric Leister , AccuWeather meteorologist

December 8,2016, 12:03:13PM,EST

 

 

Low clouds and fog will continue to create travel disruptions over parts of southern Germany into Saturday.
A strong area of high pressure centered just south of Germany spawned the recent fog.
This area of high pressure is expected to remain stationary through Saturday, resulting in light winds that will prevent quick dispersion of the fog and low clouds in some communities.

"The fog will continue to be most persistent in the valleys of Rhineland-Pfalz, Hesse and northern and eastern Bavaria," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said. "It may hold firm or thin only slightly in some communities right through Saturday morning."
"Frankfurt is one such location," she said.
This thick fog will keep temperatures from rising above freezing for any extended time through Saturday morning. Thick ice may build up on trees and power lines, enough to cause power outages.
Travel may become dangerous on the road and in the air due to slick spots and extremely low visibility.
One person died when a six-seater airplane crashed at EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg on Wednesday evening, according to The Local Switzerland.
"Freezing fog had reduced visibility to 300 m (990 feet) at the time of the crash," Pydynowski said.
“Light winds the next few days will also result in air quality issues across southern Germany as pollutants are unable to disperse,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.
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Due the fog not holding firm in every community, a noticeable temperature contrast will take place across southern Germany.
"Where the fog lingers all day on Friday, temperatures will struggle to climb far from freezing," Pydynowski said. "Temperatures elsewhere will rise to 7-10 C (middle to upper 40s F)."
"The fog should break in more areas on Saturday afternoon."
“A reprieve from the poor air quality and fog will come on Sunday as a storm brings some rainfall and an increase in winds,” Roys said.
Northern Germany can expect pleasant weather by December standards as mild air from the Atlantic Ocean pushes temperatures well above normal through Saturday.
A few showers will accompany this milder air; however, most of the time will be dry from Cologne to Hamburg and Berlin.
A storm system will then bring a steadier rainfall to northern Germany on Sunday while showers spread farther south.