Overview
- The German Weather Service keeps widespread yellow and orange alerts in place across large areas, warning of overfreezing drizzle, rime-induced slickness and subzero nights.
- Berlin and Potsdam hospitals reported surges of fall and crash patients, with Potsdam’s Ernst von Bergmann declaring a mass‑casualty level 2 and treating up to 86 injured, mostly fractures to shoulders, arms and hips.
- Berlin emergency services logged hundreds of ice-related deployments as three rescue helicopters were grounded by frost, additional ambulances were mobilized and response times lengthened.
- Transport impacts included a multi-hour suspension of bus service in Potsdam, numerous collisions reported in NRW, Niedersachsen and Sachsen, and minor de-icing delays at BER airport.
- Looking to Dec 31–Jan 1, DWD expects renewed glaze-ice risk from freezing drizzle and localized snow or sleet, and authorities continue urging people to avoid nonessential travel and seek primary care for non-urgent issues.