Overview
- The German Weather Service (DWD) forecasts a sharp cooldown from Monday with frequent showers, single‑digit daytime highs around 4 to 9 °C, and nighttime frost in places.
- Snow is expected in higher terrain, with the Alpine snowline dropping to roughly 500–700 meters and 15–20 centimeters possible above about 1,000 meters in favored zones.
- Several models indicate a risk on Wednesday and Thursday that evaporative cooling (Niederschlagsabkühlung) could pull snow into parts of the Mittelgebirge and some western lowlands.
- Guidance diverges on low‑elevation accumulations, with the GFS at times suggesting 5–10 centimeters in parts of NRW even as other models are more conservative.
- Forecasters warn of localized hazards including lake‑effect snow bands near the North and Baltic Seas on Tuesday, slippery roads (Glätte), and potential commute disruptions; winter tires and caution are advised.