Germany is grappling with a sudden return of harsh winter conditions, which have caused numerous accidents and traffic paralysis in many regions of the country. The most serious situation occurred in Leverkusen, where ice chunks falling from the pylons of a bridge on the A1 motorway damaged many vehicles. Due to the difficult conditions, at least several people were injured, and authorities are warning of further snowfall and black ice in the coming days.

Bridge Paralysis in Leverkusen

A key crossing on the A1 was closed after ice chunks falling from pylons damaged cars. Traffic was restored after several hours.

Numerous Road Accidents

In Rhineland-Palatinate and Bavaria, dangerous incidents occurred, including a vehicle rollover, in which at least two people were injured.

DWD Forecasts for Germany

Meteorologists predict further snowfall and freezing rain in Thuringia, Saxony, and Berlin with sub-zero temperatures.

A winter front that moved over Germany brought heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and sharp temperature drops, paralyzing transport in key regions of the country. The most dramatic events occurred on the A1 motorway in Leverkusen. The local bridge over the Rhine had to be completely closed to traffic due to falling ice debris. The multi-hour blockage of this key crossing, used by over 100,000 vehicles daily, was lifted only in the afternoon of February 16, 2026, when police deemed conditions safe. This was the third such incident in the past year, but this time material damage was significantly greater. In other parts of the country, the situation was no better. In Rhineland-Palatinate, a serious accident occurred where a car rolled over, and two people sustained serious injuries. In Bavaria, a gritter truck crashed into a building wall, becoming a symbol of the difficulties faced by road services. DWD issued warnings for Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, where snowfall is expected to turn into freezing rain. Problems with ice accumulation on the pylons of modern suspension bridges are a known engineering challenge; similar incidents have been recorded in the past, including on bridges in Canada and Scandinavia, forcing designers to use special heating systems for cables. Drivers in Hamburg, Berlin, and Brandenburg must prepare for temperatures dropping to minus 4 degrees Celsius. Authorities are urging extreme caution, as lingering slush and hidden ice beneath will pose a threat at least until mid-week. „Further dangerous situations could not be ruled out, so the complete bridge closure was necessary to protect drivers' lives.” — Rzeczpospolita, based on n-tvForecast Snow Cover Heights: Harz: 10, Lower Saxony: 5, Bavaria: 5, Berlin: 2100 000 — vehicles per day use the Leverkusen bridgeCourse of Traffic Paralysis: February 16, 04:00 — Gritter Truck Accident; February 16, 07:27 — A1 Bridge Closure; February 16, 09:05 — Traffic Resumed; February 16, 11:15 — Casualty Toll