Major storm to hit Munich - 18.Jan.2007

The kindergarden just phoned up and they have been directed by the Schulamt to have the parents pick up all children before 3:30 pm. The radio reported that the schools would be closing at 2:00 pm. This is to make sure no one is caught travelling in the storm.

Just in case you are like me - sometimes TT is a better source of information. I never listen to the radio.

Rather windy - but is a storm abrewing?

Is this for all of Munich? Good excuse to leave early today if it is.

Ok, so apparently it's not only gonna be a plague of frogs and mythical lightning bolts from Olympus sent down, today is, apparently, the start of Armageddon and will be the Storm Of The Century Week.

That said, i think it would only be sensible and expediant of all TTers and TTerins to immediately go to a storm cellar of your choice and drink Augustiner whilst available before the brewery is devastated and the elixir of life is no longer available.

I would suggest Kilians or The Arc as being suitable storm cellars to wait out the oncoming wrath of Mother Nature.

Not sure if we need a sign-up sheet so the emergency services can tell how many of us are trapped below the ruins?

What a bunch of pussies, who shuts school cos of a bit of wind?

Oh bugger, although at that time mine are already home. What is it with this country? Too hot, too windy, fön, kreislaufstörung, etc etc. This is a perfect day to fly a kite!! Should get all the kids out doing that.

European life is more valuable than other nationalities, based on economical investments etc. reasoning of course. Therefore, most Europeans are really pussies. Since most parents only have one or at most two kids, if one dies, the burden on the pension system would be greater. So subconciously, they turn out to be "more concerned" for their kids... overtly i'd say.

Good idea! I'll tell my boss that I want to go home at 2pm because of the wind... Just hope he won't kick my ass...

Kenichi wins funniest post of the day up to now.

Good idea to have a sign-up sheet so rescue workers can find us. Way to have your thinking cap on, Dave. The good thing about barricading ourselves in a pub is that even if we're trapped for several days, we should have enough supplies to keep us alive. The last thing I want to have to do is resort to cannibalism.

I had planned (and promised) to take my daughter iceskating at Karlsplatz at 1.30 today. It now sounds like a seriously bad idea?

Everybody be sure to put on your ski gear with avalanche rescue technology.

Might as well use it for something this year!

This is the kind of damage we are looking at:

I think being safe at home is a good idea for children and in a garage a good idea for cars.

I'd say batten down the hatches and surf the internet all day.

She is going to be so disappointed and I should have taken her yesterday except I was hungover. I am a bad bad mother

Guilty mother syndrome is pointless especially with re. to an Act of God.

What exactly is the big storm supposed to be? I don't understand enough German to figure it out from the radio and websites.

There are about 20 threads on it at the moment.

Seeing as how cars and trucks are being blown out of their lanes on the Autobahn up north you are a great mother for keeping her inside. Let her watch N24 with pictures of trees tipping over and people holding on to lampposts so as not to be blown away - better than cartoons any day (except the old, un-PC Tom and Jerry ones).

Do you have an address of a storm cellar with Franziskaner? Augustiner turns my pee a strange color.

Ok that made me laugh sarabyrd! She might like to see that!

Latest news:

Due to predicted weather conditions, MIS will close at 12:30 today. Starting at 12:30 children will be transported home on their morning bus. The bus companies are doing their best to accommodate the 12:30 dismissal. Delays are possible.

If your child does not take a morning bus please pick up your child at 12:30 from their school building at MIS.

I got a phone call from my dad a minute ago telling me all S-Bahn services will stop at 14:00h. The MVV homepage does not mention anything. Could someone possibly confirm this rumour? Or rather: Could someone please not confirm this rumour? I have to get home somehow.

Wifie just tolsd me the same but 15:00 as a time...

And how long will services be down? I have scanned the MVV website as well but no joy yet...

I am also trying to find information about it, but nothing...

I checked the S-Bahn website (different to MVV website) : www.s-bahn-muenchen.de but also no joy.

My colleague has just asked me if this will affect the U-Bahn aswell!!

Well parts of the U-Bahn -are- above ground, so I guess it's not too much of a stupid question.

According to the MVV, none of their services will be affected today.

If anyone is planning to fly today, check the airport site. Some flights already cancelled

Just listening to B5. They haven't said anything about it. So I guess there'S not yet anything happening, although we're talking about the S-Bahn and German customer services at its best...

How can I check the status of the s-bahn to get back home from Erding to Munich??

Is this the correct website: http://www.s-bahn-muenchen.de/

Seems to be timing out at the moment, maybe half of Munich is looking at the site?

According to the MVV, none of the services will be shutting down today. Man on phone said so. Unless he's got the wrong info you've no worries.

They will be slower though so expect plenty of waiting and hope that no trees fall across the tracks.

Technically the S-Bahn is run by Deutsche Bahn and not MVV, though. The MVV website has separate "news tickers" for the S-Bahn and the rest of the transit (MVG.)

At the moment, the ticker for MVG says no special reports, and there's nothing at all on the S-Bahn ticker.

The DB website doesn't look to be well set up for up-to-the-minute reports of transport disruptions.

Just had a mail from a mate that his flight from Heathrow is cancelled today and looking on the site it seems that all flights between here and Heathrow are also cancelled, presume it's at the London end rather than here that's the problem as the others seeem to be unaffected.

i don't think the storm is going to be so bad unless you are in the moutains or further up north.

Stansted has cancelled a couple of Germany flights so far, Berlin and somewhere else? (can't remember - not much use!)

Reckon I better get myself a bed in Blighty tonight

here's a link with the latest traffic. Nothing is as of yet stopped, but that means bugger all for later. One tree on the overheads and it's a long walk from Unterfoehring to Gräfelfing...

http://www.br-online.de/news/verkehr/?x=182&y=10

Anyone know if the MVG is down or not today becuase of the weather!

too many rumour mongers here )

@matt, No changes apparently. It's wind, not an earthquake

We had to collect the kids from the KG at 1pm, football training cancelled and also the VHS rang to say it's not on tonight either! Is it really going to be that bad? I'm another one who doesn't understand all the Deutsch news bulletins.

Try this one. It's not always right, though:
http://www.igsbahn-muenchen.de/ris/ris.shtml

I now heard that the SBahns are stopping at 4pm!!

Oh...UA, I just posted in another thread...What's your source on the closures? Are the U bahns effected as well?

Last I heard is that the trains have not stopped, but they have been ordered to slow way down. The first tree blown down across the tracks will however create havoc and then they are likely to stop.

Bloody hell - the huge tree in the US Consulate compound right across the road from me just bent 45 degrees - luckily away from my balcony windows, seriously worrying!!

Damn and I plan to go to the Consulate tomorrow. It would suck if they closed due to damage.