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Germany Braces for Severe Black Ice as Storm Gunda Brings Freezing Rain Monday

States shift to remote schooling and transport operators caution travelers as officials urge people to avoid nonessential trips.

Overview

  • DWD warns of an overregional, severe black-ice event as snow turns to freezing rain overnight, issuing alerts for multiple states including North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate and parts of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Lower Saxony and Thuringia.
  • North Rhine-Westphalia moves all schools to distance learning with emergency care only, and all of Lower Saxony and Bremen cancel in-person classes; parts of Hesse also suspend regular schooling.
  • Deutsche Bahn says major long‑distance routes have reopened after storm Elli and expects only limited disruptions from freezing rain, though travelers should expect delays and check connections.
  • Meteorologists expect the most hazardous icing from early Monday into Tuesday in some eastern and southern regions, with conditions projected to ease by Wednesday.
  • ADAC advises leaving cars at home where black ice is possible, and authorities warn against walking on frozen waterways due to thin, unsafe ice.