GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — The big chill is about to hit U.S. bases in northern Bavaria with forecasters predicting snow over the next six days.

The first two inches of snow are expected Wednesday, according to Senior Airman Dominick Martin, 28, of Kittery, Maine, a forecaster with the 7th Weather Squadron at Grafenwöhr.

It’s likely the storm will stick around until Monday, although it is possible that some of the snow could turn to "freezing precipitation" during the week, Martin said. Freezing precipitation is super-cooled rain that turns to ice as soon as it hits the ground, he said.

Safety personnel have a plan for extreme driving conditions and have placed information displays at mail rooms to alert the community, U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwöhr safety director Mike Schwarz said. The garrison plan involves military and German police checking road conditions in the early morning.

If road conditions are rated "red" or "black," the garrison commander has the option of delaying the start of the work and school days by two hours, Schwarz said.

People looking for road information also can listen to American Forces Network radio, check the garrison Web site (www.grafenwoehr.army.mil) or call DSN 475-ROAD or civilian 09641-83-ROAD), he said.

So far this winter, Grafenwöhr has experienced only one period of red road conditions, late last month when a big dump left a foot of snow on the ground.

However in the last two weeks, temperatures have warmed and most of the snow has melted.

Bavarian Ski Club webmaster Nate Atwood said this week’s snow is welcome news to skiers.

"I’m very amped about it. We are looking forward to having a good start to the season at last," he said.

Many ski areas in Bavaria are set to open this weekend including the closest large ski area to Grafenwöhr — Grosser Arber in the Bavarian Forest.

A snow report for another popular Bavarian resort, the Zugspitze in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, showed six out of 11 lifts open with the expectation of snow on five days during the next week.