Germany is experiencing one of the season’s first major winter outbreaks, marked by heavy snowfall, widespread black ice and sharply falling temperatures. The national meteorological service warned early Thursday that conditions would deteriorate throughout the day and into Friday, urging drivers and commuters across the country to prepare for hazardous travel. Dozens of road accidents, blocked highways and regional train failures have already been reported.
While some regions contend with only light wintry showers, others face heavy snow accumulation, persistent frost and steep temperature drops. The situation varies sharply from state to state, but the overall pattern is clear: much of Germany is moving into a period of unstable, locally severe winter weather.
Baden-Württemberg: from the Black Forest to the Allgäu, winter takes hold
Higher elevations in Baden-Württemberg woke up to deep winter conditions. Fresh snow of more than 15 centimetres was recorded in mountainous areas, with local communities in the Black Forest and Hochschwarzwald seeing prolonged frost and up to 20 centimetres of accumulation. The snow line dropped to around 600 metres, turning many elevated towns into complete winter landscapes. In contrast, milder temperatures prevailed in parts of the Breisgau region, where values climbed to six degrees.
Bavaria: dozens of accidents as black ice turns roads treacherous
Bavaria was among the hardest-hit states on Thursday morning. Police reported at least 50 accidents in Lower Bavaria alone as vehicles skidded on black ice and snow-covered roads. Lorries jackknifed, buses were forced to stop and cars were left stranded in several districts, particularly around Passau, Deggendorf and Straubing. Although many vehicles were damaged, authorities confirmed no severe injuries.
Weather models indicate continued snowfall across the Alpine foothills throughout Thursday and into Friday. In mountainous areas, up to 15 additional centimetres of fresh snow are expected. South of the Danube, temperatures are forecast to plunge as low as minus eight degrees.
Hessen: extensive preparations as snow hits the Rhön
In Hessen, snowfall concentrated mainly in the Rhön region while mixed showers of rain, sleet and occasional snow were reported elsewhere. Daytime temperatures climbed slightly, but black ice remained a risk in elevated terrain. Road maintenance authorities emphasised their winter readiness: roughly 90,000 tonnes of salt and nearly 1,000 staff with around 390 vehicles stand by to keep more than 15,000 kilometres of roads safe. The winter service expects another round of snow in the northern highlands on Friday.
Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland: unstable mix of rain, snow and frost
Higher areas above 200 metres again faced snowfall and slippery surfaces. In the Eifel, temperatures remained below freezing while other regions reached up to seven degrees. Overnight, fresh snow, graupel and freezing surfaces are possible. The unstable pattern continues into Friday, with most snowfall expected only in mountainous zones.
North Rhine-Westphalia: freezing fog and plunging temperatures
NRW saw a sharp drop in the snow line to around 200 metres. The mountainous regions, including the Sauerland and the Kahlen Asten, remained in continuous frost with temperatures falling to minus two degrees during the day. Strong winds amplified the cold. Overnight, values around minus eight degrees combined with freezing fog are expected to create dangerous black ice.
The Sauerland saw the most severe traffic disruption. Sections of the A45 came to a standstill after heavy lorries lost control and slid off the road. Rail traffic around Arnsberg collapsed temporarily as snow-covered switches had to be cleared manually.
Niedersachsen and Bremen: deep freeze in the Harz
In the Harz Mountains, temperatures stayed below freezing all day with isolated snowfall above 600 metres. Coastal regions saw a different weather pattern, with showers and rare thunderstorms near the North Sea. Overnight lows could drop to minus seven degrees across parts of Niedersachsen and Bremen.
Sachsen-Anhalt: clear skies after a day of snow, but icy nights ahead
Snow and sleet moved eastward during the afternoon while elevated regions of the Oberharz remained under continuous frost. Widespread freezing surfaces are expected overnight due to refreezing moisture. Friday should bring long sunny periods, yet the cold intensifies towards the weekend with night-time temperatures around minus ten degrees.
Winter services in Sachsen-Anhalt report strong readiness, with more than 35,000 tonnes of road salt and 3,500 tonnes of brine stored across the state, alongside nearly 750 employees and almost 280 vehicles positioned for immediate deployment.
Sachsen: persistent snowfall and overnight freezing
In the Erzgebirge and Vogtland, snowfall continued throughout the day. Up to five centimetres of new snow are forecast, with temperatures ranging from minus four in mountainous areas to two degrees elsewhere. Overnight frost and refreezing moisture could make roads extremely slippery for commuters on Friday morning.
Thüringen: snow in the highlands and increasing frost
The Thüringer Wald and the Schiefergebirge saw steady snowfall and persistent frost above 500 metres. Forecasts include up to five centimetres of accumulation in some areas. Overnight lows may dip to minus eight degrees, and further cooling is expected towards the weekend, with meteorologists warning of potential lows near minus ten degrees.
Berlin and Brandenburg: unstable showers and light frost
A mix of rain and occasional sleet is expected during Friday, with cloud cover gradually breaking up later in the day. Light overnight frost could produce localised icy patches. Daytime temperatures will hover slightly above freezing across most of the region.
Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg: wind gusts and coastal showers
Only eastern parts of Schleswig-Holstein saw significant snowfall, while a passing low-pressure system brought wind gusts that reached up to 70 kilometres per hour. Friday’s outlook includes a mix of sunshine and clouds, with scattered showers around the North Sea—some falling as sleet or rain.
Outlook: a colder weekend across Germany
Weather conditions remain unstable nationwide, but most states should expect lower temperatures and continued risk of black ice heading into the weekend. With multiple regions already reporting significant disruption, authorities advise motorists and commuters to remain cautious, particularly during early morning hours when refreezing is most likely.
