After several damp and unusually mild days, a striking shift in weather is approaching. As high-pressure system “Sieglinde” moves southeast over Germany by Sunday, it will block moist air from the North Sea and open the door to clearer skies — and much colder nights.
Meteorologists expect the weekend to deliver a mix of sunshine and chill, marking the season’s first real taste of early-winter conditions.
Weekend outlook: bright skies, biting air
According to forecasters at WetterKontor, the upcoming weekend will bring a brief hint of a “golden October” — blue skies and sunshine — but daytime highs will stay modest, mostly below 15 °C.
At night, however, things turn frosty. Dominik Jung from Wetter.net warns that the early hours of Sunday could bring air frost in the east and ground frost down to –8 °C in some sheltered areas. The coldest spots will likely be in Lower Bavaria and the Bavarian Forest, known for their sub-zero “cold hollows.”
Snow in the highlands
Light snow is possible in the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge), the Bavarian Forest, and the high Alpine regions on Friday night and Saturday morning, where temperatures are expected to dip below freezing.
Elsewhere, the mornings will be chilly but dry, with pleasant sunshine for most regions during the day.
Climatologist Dr. Karsten Brandt of Donnerwetter.de notes that Saturday could still see 15 °C in western Germany, accompanied by long sunny spells, especially toward the south and southwest.
Friday: cloudy and damp start
Before the temperature drop, Friday will begin mostly overcast and misty, with pockets of drizzle or light rain. Only along the coast and far northeast might a few sunny intervals appear.
By nightfall, skies will start to clear in the west and north, allowing the cold to settle in. The first patches of ground frost may form there before expanding eastward by Sunday morning.
Frost won’t last long
The chill will be short-lived. By Monday, weather models predict the return of clouds and rain, ending the frost phase as milder Atlantic air flows back in. Daytime temperatures will climb to around 15 °C, with nights near 10 °C — a return to classic wet, windy, and mild autumn weather.
Summary
Germany faces its first real cold snap of the season this weekend. Expect sunny but chilly days, frosty nights, and occasional high-altitude snow — a short interlude of winter before milder, wetter conditions return next week.
