Overview
- Since December 1, Germany has averaged about 51 mm of precipitation—roughly 28% of the 1991–2020 winter norm—as a blocking high has suppressed rain and snow.
- UFZ Dürremonitor data show moisture deficits reaching deeper soil layers, a warning sign for groundwater, rivers and reservoirs if spring rains fall short.
- The German Weather Service has issued frost and icy-road alerts nationwide, including a level‑2 severe frost warning in eastern Bavaria with nighttime lows near −15°C.
- An inversion produced striking contrasts this week, with Bavaria’s Hohenpeißenberg reaching 13.0°C on January 19 while many valleys remained much colder.
- Forecasts indicate a turn back to colder conditions into the weekend and next week, with regional snow or freezing rain possible in areas such as Bavaria and NRW, though amounts remain uncertain.