Plauen battles black ice as severe winter storm triggers emergency response
Glatteis Warning Issued for Plauen as Winter Services Ramp Up
The German Weather Service (DWD) has warned that sleet and freezing rain could lead to black ice in and around Plauen today (January 12). An official severe weather alert for glatteis has also been issued. The city's public works department is operating around the clock, with a second shift deploying at noon and remaining on duty until approximately 9 p.m. In addition to municipal crews, all private contractors commissioned by the city for winter road maintenance are actively responding.
Under the current weather alert, rock salt may also be used on sidewalks—a measure not typically permitted. The city still has around 700 metric tons of de-icing salt in storage. An order for 250 tons has been placed for the main depot, of which 70 tons have already arrived, along with an additional 50 tons delivered for the silo. If temperatures rise in the coming days, the city will proceed with ordering the remaining 450 tons of stored salt.
According to Section 4 of the City's Street Cleaning and Fee Regulations, the following guidelines apply to de-icing:
Sidewalks must be treated with abrasive materials (e.g., sand or grit) during icy or snowy conditions. The use of salt and other chemical de-icers is generally prohibited, except in the following cases:
- (a) In exceptional weather conditions, such as freezing rain, where abrasive materials alone cannot provide sufficient traction.
- (b) On high-risk areas, including stairs, ramps, bridge approaches and exits, steep inclines, or other hazardous locations. Manufacturer instructions—particularly regarding application rates and concentration—must be followed.
Tree pits and green spaces must not be salted, nor may salt-contaminated snow be dumped on them.
Snow clearance prioritizes key routes based on a predefined order: 1. Major arteries and through roads (state and county highways) with high traffic volume. 2. Public transport routes, central bus stops, and access roads to the hospital, schools, fire and police stations, parking garages, and steep residential collector streets, as well as pedestrian crossings on the above roads, industrial zone streets, and critical side roads. 3. All remaining streets and flat residential roads are addressed last.
For further details, visit www.ourwebsite/winterservice.
