Storm Elli was forecast to sweep into Central Europe on Thursday night, reaching full force across Germany on Friday night and into Saturday.
The storm was predicted to bring a mix of snowfall, storm‑force winds, black ice and severe frost to large parts of the country.
What to expect where you live
The storm was expected to hit hardest in the north and eastern parts of the country with areas around Hamburg, Kiel, Rostock and Greifswald expected to see heavy snowfall, and strong winds along the North Sea coast.
Snow could pile up to 20 centimetres in places – particularly in North Frisia, the Harz Mountains and the regions between the Elbe and Weser rivers.
In Lower Saxony, schools in Wilhelmshaven, Emden and the district of Aurich were already closed on Thursday due to intense wintry conditions, and further closures may be seen in other states on Friday.
Meanwhile, parts of Baden‑Württemberg and North Rhine‑Westphalia, including regions around Cologne, Stuttgart and Freiburg, were expected to see milder temperatures and rain. Around the Upper Rhine, temperatures may reach as high as 8C.
But with temperatures still dipping below freezing at night, this comes with the risk of freezing rain and black ice.
The German Weather Service (DWD) suggests that residents can expect conditions to calm down again by Sunday.
Warnings for travellers
Transport on roads, railways and even ferry and air routes may face major disruptions, according to the latest winter hazard assessments by Germany’s largest motoring organisation, the ADAC.
Motorists and pedestrians should expect slippery roads and pavements almost everywhere, with black ice being a hazard risk in large parts of the country.
Some regions – including parts of southern and eastern Germany as well as the city states of Bremen and Hamburg – are already under severe weather warnings.
Winter tyre requirements apply, and freezing rain in the southwest may make roads extremely treacherous. Gritting services in some regions may also be affected by staff shortages or limited supplies, especially in Mecklenburg‑Western Pomerania and parts of Lower Saxony.
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The ADAC is advising drivers to travel only if absolutely necessary. If you do need to drive through the storm, you are are advised to exercise caution and to maintain long braking distances between vehicles. Expect longer waiting times if you need to request roadside assistance.
On the rails, Deutsche Bahn has already reduced services in the north, with disruptions affecting connections to Norddeich‑Mole, Kiel, Westerland/Sylt, Rostock, Binz/Rügen and even Copenhagen.
ICE train speeds on several major routes have been reduced to 200 km/h, extending travel times by up to 30 minutes.
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Regional transport in Schleswig‑Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Bremen may also experience delays and cancellations until January 11th. Cross‑border travel to France and the Netherlands is also affected.
At time of writing, airports were stable, but conditions could change quickly as the storm moves in -- travellers should check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.
Some ferries to the East Frisian Islands are unlikely to operate on Friday.
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