Germany is grappling with a return of wintry weather, which has brought heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and dangerous black ice to many regions of the country. The German Meteorological Service warns of extreme road conditions, particularly in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and the northeast. Numerous collisions have occurred, and road services are working around the clock to keep major transport arteries passable during the final days of the carnival season.

Extreme black ice on roads

The German weather service DWD warns of dangerous transport conditions in Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg caused by freezing rain.

Heavy snowfall in the mountains

Up to 30 cm of snow could fall in the higher elevations of the Black Forest, which, combined with gale-force winds, risks paralyzing local routes.

Accidents and disruptions on the A1

Blockages and collisions on the A1 motorway near Leverkusen and numerous accidents in the Sauerland region confirm the difficult situation on major routes.

Germany is facing a sudden deterioration in weather conditions, which has significantly hampered transport in many federal states. The Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) has issued its highest-level warnings for black ice and intense snowfall. The most difficult situation is in the south of the country, where in the higher elevations of the Black Forest, snow accumulation of 20 to 30 centimeters is forecast. The wintry weather has also spared the north; in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, temperatures have dropped below zero, and roads have become exceptionally slippery. Germany's road infrastructure is among the most modern in Europe, yet sudden winter onslaughts in the Rhine and Elbe river basins regularly lead to transport paralysis, which has been the subject of debates about the effectiveness of winter road maintenance since the 1970s. The weather conditions have negatively impacted celebrations for Faschingsdienstag, or Shrove Tuesday. In many cities, parade participants had to contend with sleet and gusty winds. On the A1 motorway near Leverkusen, dangerous incidents occurred due to chunks of ice falling from trucks. In Rhineland-Palatinate, accidents involving injured persons were reported, including a vehicle rollover. Technical services in Dresden mobilized 49 workers and 40 vehicles to clear snow from bus routes and bridges, prioritizing major transport hubs. „In mountainous regions and northeastern Germany, precipitation is occurring almost exclusively as snow.” — Sebastian Schappert Despite the current difficulties, meteorologists predict a slow change in the weather. Although Ash Wednesday will remain cloudy, a high-pressure system is expected to arrive by Friday, bringing more sunny spells. By the weekend, temperatures could rise to double-digit figures, which will likely end the current wintry episode. Until then, drivers are urged to exercise extreme caution and adjust their speed to the conditions on highways. Black Forest: 30, Harz: 10, Lower Saxony: 3, Bavaria: 8 30 cm — amount of fresh snow that could fall in higher mountain areas [{"dataISO": "2026-02-17", "data": "February 17", "event": "Peak of snowfall and black ice"}, {"dataISO": "2026-02-18", "data": "February 18", "event": "Precipitation weakening on Ash Wednesday"}, {"dataISO": "2026-02-20", "data": "February 20", "event": "Arrival of sunny weather and warming"}]

Mentioned People