Overview
- DWD expects a marked cooldown from Monday with rain, graupel and the first snow in higher terrain plus nighttime frost risks.
- The most reliable accumulations are forecast for the Alps and higher Mittelgebirge, where Alpine high and stau zones could see tens of centimeters.
- Model guidance diverges on lowlands: the GFS flags 5–10 cm in parts of North Rhine-Westphalia from Wednesday to Thursday, while experts caution that broad, deep totals remain overstated.
- Evaporative cooling could briefly lower the snowline to roughly 200–500 meters, allowing localized surprise snow in western and central regions.
- Forecasters urge winter tires and travel caution for ice and slick roads, with lake‑effect snow showers possible near the North and Baltic coasts on Tuesday.