German climate service warns of “severe weather-like black ice situation” | EUROtoday

As of: January 11, 2026 7:41 p.m

According to the German Weather Service, deep “Gunda” will deliver snow and freezing rain on Monday. Even at night time there’s a threat of black ice in lots of areas. Schools stay closed in a number of federal states.

After a sunny Sunday, new climate chaos threatens already in a single day. Deep “Gunda” brings snow from the west and later rain, which freezes within the air or on the bottom in icy temperatures, because the German Weather Service (DWD) introduced. The result’s “a supra-regional storm-like black ice situation,” stated DWD meteorologist Oliver Reuter. The DWD issued a extreme climate warning because of black ice for a number of federal states.

The ADAC recommends avoiding pointless automotive journeys. A spokesman for the auto membership warned that it’s higher to go away the automotive parked, particularly when there’s lightning ice.

Schools stay closed in lots of locations

In essentially the most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia, colleges will proceed distance studying on Monday due to the chance of black ice. The state authorities introduced that solely emergency care could be supplied on web site.

Regular college operations had been additionally canceled in all of Lower Saxony, Bremen, Saarland and elements of Hesse because of the threat of black ice. In some circumstances there are distance studying programs.

Bahn solely expects a small quantity restrictions

Deutsche Bahn expects solely minor restrictions because of freezing rain on Monday. It can’t be assumed that there may very well be as huge issues as on Friday and Saturday once more, stated the top of the railway firm DB InfraGo, which is accountable for the infrastructure, Philipp Nagl.

The railway had quickly utterly stopped long-distance site visitors in northern Germany since Friday because of winter storm “Elli”. On Sunday afternoon, round two thirds of Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance site visitors in northern Germany was operating usually once more, as railway boss Evelyn Palla stated. “The major main axes are all cleared and passable.”

No extra winter climate in sight from Wednesday

There had been quite a few slippery accidents on the roads over the weekend, however general the scenario remained comparatively relaxed. An icy night time was adopted in lots of locations by a beautiful winter Sunday with numerous solar over the freshly snow-covered landscapes.

That’s over now. Regionally, in line with the DWD forecast, there could also be freezing rain till Tuesday, particularly in Bavaria and the east. “On Wednesday during the day, winter said farewell to Germany and packed up the crowbar again,” stated DWD meteorologist Reuter. Real winter climate is not in sight in the meanwhile.

Politicians criticize Bahn-Management

At the railway, nevertheless, the rework is prone to proceed. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) advised the Rheinische Post that the railway would definitely analyze “where things went particularly well hand in hand and where there is something to improve, further optimize processes.” However, additionally it is clear that in such excessive climate circumstances it isn’t potential to plan regular operations and that new reactions must be made many times.

“Other European countries do this better when it snows or is cold,” stated Christoph Ploß (CDU), a member of the Bundestag’s Transport Committee, to the Rheinische Post.

The Greens referred to as for a important assessment of the railway’s disaster administration. It is “restricting rail traffic today, where it was previously maintained in sometimes difficult weather conditions,” Green rail knowledgeable Matthias Gastel advised the newspaper.