Germany | January 8, 2026 – Germany is preparing for heavy snowfall this weekend, which is expected to cause school closures and flight delays.
The German Weather Service (DWD) has forecasted strong snowstorms hitting the country overnight, particularly affecting eastern and central Germany, as well as areas between the northern cities of Bremen and Hamburg.
A DWD meteorologist described the weather as “extreme”, with snow accumulation expected to reach up to 20 centimeters in some regions.
While parts of Germany have already been covered by snow and ice for several days, authorities warned that the combination of strong winds and heavy snow could cause chaos and traffic disruptions.
The storm, named “Elli”, is expected to hit tomorrow before weakening and moving east toward the Czech Republic on Saturday.
As a precaution, Germany’s ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) canceled its first major party meeting of the year due to the worsening weather. Around 350 participants, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz and approximately 100 media representatives, were scheduled to attend the two-day conference in Mainz, near Frankfurt.
Merz stated that the party leadership plans to hold the meeting online instead and approve several resolutions remotely.
