Severe Winter Weather Causes Widespread Disruption Across Germany

Germany is grappling with severe winter weather in late January 2026, marked by freezing rain, heavy snowfall, and hazardous icy conditions that have led to major transportation and public service disruptions nationwide. The German Weather Service (DWD) has issued warnings for freezing rain-induced black ice, particularly in northeastern regions such as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, and Berlin, while southeastern Bavaria faces heavy snowfall of up to 20 centimeters.

Roads have become treacherous, resulting in numerous traffic accidents on highways in Franconia, Saxony, and Baden-Württemberg. The A8 highway was temporarily closed in Baden-Württemberg due to multiple collisions, and emergency services in Thuringia responded to around 30 accidents linked to icy roads. The persistent winter conditions have also prompted school closures in several Bavarian districts including Unterfranken and Mittelfranken, as well as in northern areas like Hameln-Pyrmont and Celle.

Public transportation has been heavily impacted with delays and suspensions across long-distance and regional train services. Deutsche Bahn has confirmed disruptions on multiple routes including Berlin to Stralsund and Rostock, Stuttgart, Ulm, and the Hannover-Uelzen-Hamburg corridor, where snow blocked key railway switches. Urban transit in cities such as Würzburg has been halted, and safety precautions led to the closure of the animal park in Nuremberg’s Tiergarten.

The winter turmoil even affected political logistics; Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul had to alter his travel plans, shifting departure from Berlin to Leipzig due to icy road conditions. The ADAC roadside assistance is operating with extended wait times as they contend with a surge in assistance requests.

Authorities advise drivers to exercise extreme caution, maintain safe distances, and comply with Germany's winter tire regulations amid continuing hazardous conditions. While temperature rises may slightly ease some areas like Saxony, the overall outlook remains challenging with ongoing risks from ice and snowfall across the country.