Part 5/8:
Cold weather was not limited to the North. Central Europe saw rivers freeze, causing commute and trade disruptions. For example, the Rhine River in Germany remained frozen for an astounding 70 days during winter 1363-64. Snow would blanket towns, sometimes for months on end, with reports of cities trapped under more than 18 feet of snow.
Weather patterns of this era often resulted in significant casualties, with diseases thriving in cramped, cold, and unclean living quarters. The harsh conditions turned winter from a seasonal inconvenience to a perilous time of year.