Overview
- Official alerts highlight widespread frost and hazardous ice, with the DWD naming Münsterland, Ostwestfalen, Sauerland and parts of the Eifel for glatteis risk from late Friday into Saturday.
- Nighttime lows commonly range from minus 1 to minus 9 degrees Celsius, locally near minus 12 in the east, and media cite the period as likely the coldest Christmas in about 15 years.
- Strong to stormy gusts persist on exposed ridges and coastal areas, while many regions see sun and others sit under persistent high fog, especially in parts of Bavaria and the southwest.
- Snow over the holidays has been limited to higher terrain and parts of southern Germany, with most lowland areas remaining dry despite the cold.
- Forecasts point to a potential pattern change around New Year, with Polarluft and precipitation possibly bringing snow to lowlands, though timing and amounts remain uncertain.