Coronavirus enforcement in the German state of Bavaria ended up with a police patrol chasing five people fleeing a self-made igloo they had erected in a wooded central city park in Augsburg, west of Munich.

One of them was caught and charged with breaching coronavirus lockdown rules that limit contact to one household plus one other person, Augsburg police said. 

"Upon seeing the patrol vehicle, several igloo residents fled in different directions," the report stated, adding igloo occupants had used the "Arctic shelter" as a place to meet.

Heavy snowfall hits southern Germany

Widespread snowfalls across southern Germany on Thursday night caused disruption on roads and rail networks, including the train route between Munich and Zurich in Switzerland.

The dangerous wintry weather hit the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, leaving truck drivers stuck on highways and leading to the death of a 72-year-old woman who was struck by a falling snow-laden tree.

Avalanche experts in both southern states issued warnings, encouraging winter sports enthusiasts to avoid parts of the Black Forest and elevated, potentially unstable slopes in the Bavarian Alps. 

Germany's DWD meteorological service forecasts more snowfalls over the weekend, especially in western regions, spreading on Sunday eastwards. 

ipj/sms,rs (AFP, dpa)