Germany is preparing for a major snow front accompanied by storms and freezing rain. According to the German Weather Service, dangerous precipitation is expected across large parts of the country from Thursday evening. Northern and northeastern regions are forecast to see severe snowfall of up to 20 centimeters on Friday, along with drifting snow.
Winter conditions had already disrupted daily life on Thursday. Long-distance rail services operated by Deutsche Bahn were canceled, with additional disruptions on local transport and roads. Numerous accidents caused by icy conditions were reported nationwide.
Authorities in northern Germany, where the heaviest snowfall in years has been recorded in recent days, issued warnings. In Hamburg, Bremen, and several districts in Lower Saxony, officials decided to suspend in-person schooling on Friday. The Hamburg Senate and the State Firefighters’ Association in Schleswig-Holstein urged residents to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel.
Snow-clearing services were operating nationwide on Thursday, but disruptions persisted. Public transport, including buses, suburban trains, and underground services in Hamburg, faced cancellations and delays. Regional rail routes in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony were also affected.
Several traffic accidents proved fatal. Near Gehrde in Lower Saxony, a driver died on Thursday morning after losing control on an icy federal road and crashing into a tree, police said. In Baden-Württemberg, an 86-year-old man died after being struck by a turning gritting vehicle in Villingendorf on Wednesday.
The German Weather Service attributed the conditions to storm “Elli,” which is approaching from the southwest with a warm front bringing snow and rain. While lighter snowfall is expected in many areas on Thursday, heavier snow and storm gusts are forecast for Friday, particularly in the north and east, increasing the risk of drifting snow.
Severe weather warnings were already in effect on Thursday for parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, and Hamburg. The Hamburg Senate said city cleaning services had deployed more than 730 workers and 360 vehicles, but noted that “given the enormous amounts of snow, which represent an exceptional situation, clearing operations are reaching their limits.” The city has recorded its heaviest snowfall in 15 years.
Other federal states also prepared for the storm. In Rostock, the zoo was set to close on Friday. In Berlin, as well as the states of Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania and Brandenburg, parents were allowed to keep children at home due to weather conditions, though schools remained open. In two districts of Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, school bus services were suspended.
In Hesse, the interior ministry urged residents to avoid unnecessary car and bicycle trips. Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) said the state was expected to be less severely affected but still faced weather-related risks. Emergency services were preparing accordingly. In Cologne, city authorities warned of falling branches caused by storm, snow, and freezing rain, advising people to avoid parks and forests.
Deutsche Bahn recommended avoiding long-distance travel. On Thursday, it reported initial cancellations on routes including Hamburg, Kiel, Rostock, Copenhagen, Hanover, and the Ruhr region. Train speeds were reduced on several high-speed lines, including Berlin–Wolfsburg and Cologne–Frankfurt am Main, which may lead to delays. For long-distance tickets purchased in advance for travel between Friday and Sunday, the rail operator lifted train-specific ticket restrictions due to the weather.
As temperatures drop well below freezing, many cities announced additional measures to protect homeless people, including extended opening hours and sufficient capacity in emergency shelters. The Federal Association for Homeless Assistance warned of acute danger from hypothermia and urged municipalities to act. At least four homeless people have already frozen to death in Germany this winter.
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