Overview
- Germany’s weather service expects 10 to 20 centimeters of new snow in parts of the north and east with strong winds causing snowdrifts, while milder air to the southwest raises the risk of glaze ice.
- Forecasters flag two storm zones linked to Elli, with sturm-level gusts possible along the coasts and in higher terrain and a separate wind field sweeping the west and southwest.
- Transport disruption persists across Europe, including iced rail switches and curtailed services in Germany, widespread Dutch rail stoppages, and roughly 350 flight cancellations at Schiphol.
- Municipal services report nonstop operations and high salt use, with Hamburg temporarily lifting its sidewalk salt ban until January 21 as cities prepare for worsening conditions.
- Police report severe accidents tied to winter weather in Germany, including fatalities near Hannover and Braunschweig, while French authorities cite five deaths on icy roads; maritime and police units also warn that newly formed ice on waterways is unsafe to enter.