Overview
- DWD issues high‑impact warnings for heavy snow in the north and east, with 10–20 cm common and up to 30 cm between Hamburg and Berlin, plus severe drifting.
- Warm air over frozen ground will produce freezing rain in western and southern regions, creating widespread black ice, especially Friday morning.
- Winds are forecast to reach storm force in parts of the country, with gusts around 100 km/h and up to about 120 km/h in exposed areas, worsening visibility and travel risks.
- Deutsche Bahn is reducing long‑distance services from Thursday afternoon, capping ICE speeds at 200 km/h on key corridors, lifting ticket binding, and warning of delays on routes to the north and northeast including Sylt, Rügen and Copenhagen.
- Local authorities are canceling events and preparing closures, with Hamburg shutting cemeteries through Monday and multiple regions shifting schools to distance learning as experts urge people to avoid nonessential travel.