Overview
- Germany’s weather service kept high-level warnings for freezing rain and black ice in eastern and northeastern states, with forecasters expecting gradual improvement further west through the day.
- Police reported numerous crashes from Bavaria to Brandenburg, including a fatal collision on the A6 near Nuremberg and mass pile-ups near Lichtenfels and on the A9.
- Hospitals described emergency departments as extremely burdened by glatteis-related injuries, with Berlin’s trauma center reporting a marked overnight surge and urging people to limit risky travel.
- Rail impacts remained localized: Deutsche Bahn noted adjustments without nationwide disruption, while Austria’s ÖBB warned of ice-related restrictions and advised postponing non-essential trips.
- Operational pressures extended beyond accidents, as the DRK blood service reported a sharp drop in donations in Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony, and northern cities addressed thaw hazards such as tunnel ice removal.