Ice storm brings widespread disruption across western Germany

Germany

Freezing rain forces school closures, flight cancellations and rail restrictions as authorities warn of dangerous travel conditions

A severe ice storm swept across western Germany on Monday, triggering major disruptions to air, rail and road transport and prompting school closures in several federal states. Freezing rain created hazardous ice conditions, leading to more than 100 flight cancellations at Frankfurt Airport and the temporary shift of thousands of students to distance learning.

Weather authorities issue high-level warnings

The German Weather Service issued its second-highest warning level for large parts of the country as storm Gunda brought rain that froze instantly on contact with cold ground surfaces. Meteorologists described the situation as a widespread ice emergency and warned of life-threatening travel conditions.

Drivers were advised to avoid non-essential journeys. For unavoidable trips, the Weather Service recommended travelling with a full fuel tank and carrying blankets and warm drinks in case of prolonged delays or emergencies.

Schools move to remote learning

Schools remained closed on Monday in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Bremen, with lessons continuing online. Education Minister Dorothee Feller emphasised that the closures did not constitute a holiday. “This is not a school holiday,” she told public broadcaster WDR, explaining that classes had moved to distance learning to prevent injuries during potentially dangerous journeys to school.

Roads and railways severely affected

Icy conditions led to significant congestion on several motorways in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse, with multiple accidents reported, particularly in the Sauerland region. Commuters experienced severe delays as road conditions deteriorated during the morning rush hour.

Rail transport was also heavily disrupted nationwide. Deutsche Bahn reduced train speeds on several major routes, including connections between Hannover and Frankfurt, Wolfsburg and Berlin, as well as Cologne and Frankfurt, in response to icy tracks and safety concerns.

Flights cancelled at Frankfurt Airport

At Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, 102 of the 1,052 flights scheduled for Monday were cancelled. A spokesperson for Fraport said further cancellations could not be ruled out as weather conditions continued to worsen throughout the day.

Passengers were urged to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport, allow extra time for their journey and arrive at least three hours before departure. Airport authorities warned that ongoing freezing rain could continue to affect operations and access routes.

The ice storm highlighted the vulnerability of transport and public services to extreme winter weather, as authorities across Germany remained on alert for further deterioration in conditions.