Severe Winter Weather Hits Germany with Snow, Freezing Rain, and Dangerous Roads

Germany is currently experiencing a severe winter weather event over the weekend of November 22-24, 2025, marked by dropping temperatures and hazardous conditions on roads across the country. Temperatures have fallen as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius in regions such as the Erzgebirge, the coldest area in Germany, and are expected to remain bitterly cold with lows around minus 10 degrees in many places, and even minus 15 degrees in Alpine valleys.

A snow and ice rain front arrived on Sunday afternoon, spreading from the North Sea through Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), North Rhine-Westphalia, and southward toward Baden-Württemberg. The western and southern parts of Germany are particularly affected, with rain turning into freezing rain on roads, creating dangerous icy patches especially in the South Palatinate and Black Forest areas. Meanwhile, the eastern regions have largely remained dry and sunny.

These conditions have led to numerous accidents nationwide. Incidents include a VW Golf GTI overturning on icy roads in Baden-Württemberg, a near-fatal crash involving a Mercedes in Leipzig, and a serious accident with a Porsche in Hochdorf due to slippery ice. Tragically, a 79-year-old cyclist was killed after slipping on ice at a railway crossing in Leer and being struck by a train despite emergency braking interventions.

Experts have warned that the complex mixture of snow, ice rain, and below-freezing temperatures is creating unprecedented road hazards. Dr. Karsten Brandt voiced concerns about the danger of the conditions and forecasted further worsening on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) echoed these warnings, advising commuters to allow extra travel time, especially on Monday morning, as significant ice formation is expected overnight and into early week.

The DWD predicts that while some weather conditions may stabilize by Tuesday, wintery hazards will persist in the Alpine regions for longer. Katja Horneffer, a weather expert from ZDF, highlighted the ongoing dangers posed by icy roads and snow in southern Bavaria and other vulnerable areas.

Authorities continue to urge caution, emphasizing preparedness for slippery roads and the risk of further accidents during this harsh and early onset winter period in Germany.