Danger of slippery roads in Upper Franconia: How to protect yourself from accidents!

On January 7, 2025, the German Weather Service (DWD) issued an official warning about slippery conditions in parts of Upper Franconia and Middle Franconia. The warning is valid until Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. and affects, among others, the cities of Bamberg, Bayreuth, Coburg, Erlangen/ERH, Forchheim, Hof, Kronach, Kulmbach, Lichtenfels, Wunsiedel and Neustadt a.d. Aisch-Bad Windsheim. The slippery risk is classified at level 1 out of 4 and an increased risk of slipping is indicated. Further information and recommendations for action are available on the DWD website.

Already reported on January 5, 2025 Mercury about similar conditions in large parts of Bavaria that are affected by black ice. The DWD warned of a severe weather situation, which initially resulted in minor accidents, but no serious incidents occurred. Roads and air traffic suffered from a change in the weather with freezing rain and black ice, which led to the cancellation of several flights at Munich Airport. Rail traffic in Bavaria was largely undisturbed. The risk of black ice shifted over the course of the day from the southeastern regions to the northeast, with several minor accidents and weather-related disruptions being recorded in various areas, including Upper Franconia.

Additional information about the warnings

The Merkur report noted that over 20 weather-related accidents were reported in Lower Bavaria, while around five accidents were registered in Upper Bavaria North and around ten accidents in Upper Franconia. Near Aiglsbach, a truck left the road on an icy road, which led to the closure of federal highway 300 for several hours. There was also a weather-related rear-end collision in Krumbach with estimated damage of around 15,000 euros. The DWD recommends that people, especially in the affected regions, avoid spending time outdoors and traveling by car.