Winter Storm 'Gunda' Triggers School Closures and Travel Warnings Across Germany

Germany is currently grappling with significant disruptions as winter storm 'Gunda' brings widespread icy conditions following the earlier storm 'Elli'. The German Weather Service has warned that freezing rain will affect nearly all parts of the country, causing dangerous icy surfaces especially overnight into Monday morning. These hazardous conditions have led to the closure of schools in key areas including North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and parts of Lower Saxony such as Hannover, Cuxhaven, Hildesheim, Peine, Oldenburg, and Wesermarsch, with many institutions switching to distance learning to ensure safety.

Specifically, in the Cuxhaven district, all general and special education schools, along with vocational schools, will remain closed on January 12, 2026, with vocational education continuing via remote classes. The NRW Ministry of Education has mandated a full shift to remote learning starting Monday due to the expected snow front hitting the region during the busy morning hours.

Meteorologist Dominik Jung forecasted that the severe icy conditions would coincide with rush hour, intensifying travel hazards across western parts of Germany including NRW, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, and Lower Saxony. The ADAC has strongly advised motorists to avoid unnecessary travel, highlighting the dangers posed by black ice on roads, especially in forests and on bridges.

This winter episode is expected to ease after Tuesday with a rise in temperatures and diminishing precipitation. By Wednesday, conditions should improve significantly, leading to a period of milder weather with no further snow or frost anticipated in the near term. Despite these improvements, caution remains advised as a second precipitation wave could bring new icy conditions to eastern regions later in the week.

The combined impact of storms 'Elli' and 'Gunda' has thus caused extensive disruptions, primarily through hazardous transport conditions and extensive school closures, as officials prioritize public safety amid these challenging winter weather events.