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DWD Warns of Mid-May Cold Snap as Snow Hits High Ground and Frost Threatens Gardens

Models now hint at a sharp warm-up around Pentecost.

Overview

  • DWD warnings Tuesday for wind, rain and mountain snow stayed in force, with the Brocken, the Harz and parts of the Allgäu reporting around 2 to 3 centimeters of fresh snow.
  • Forecasters said Ascension Day on Thursday will be cool, cloudy and showery in many regions, with rain and some thunderstorms likely in North Rhine-Westphalia and highs mostly near 10 to 15 degrees.
  • Nighttime cold brought widespread ground frost risks, and experts urged gardeners to delay planting tomatoes, peppers, basil and geraniums or to cover them during frosty nights.
  • Major models, including ECMWF and NOAA guidance, now point to a possible jump to about 22 to 26 degrees around the Pentecost weekend, though meteorologists stress the outlook remains uncertain.
  • The cold surge is linked to a low named Doreen that pulled polar air into Germany during the Eisheiligen period of May 11 to 15, leading to short-lived snow from roughly 700 to 1,000 meters and tricky mountain travel such as on the Riedbergpass.