Overview
- Short‑term conditions are springlike in many regions, with a west to southwest airflow lifting highs broadly into the 6 to 15 degree range and keeping most areas frost‑free, according to the DWD.
- Official guidance from the DWD rules out an immediate winter return, noting only distant hints of a colder pattern late next week and keeping the coming days largely mild and mostly snow‑free.
- ECMWF ensemble updates show a growing cold cluster from roughly January 20 into the last week of the month, with some scenarios favoring widespread sub‑zero days and very cold nights, though timing and intensity remain uncertain.
- Analyses highlight a disturbed polar vortex as a potential driver for Arctic air to spill south into Europe, a setup seen earlier this season and cited in new outlooks for a possible late‑month freeze.
- Authorities emphasize present thaw hazards, warning of weak ice on lakes and considerable avalanche danger above about 1,800 meters in the Alps, while analysts note a sharp cold spell would raise heating demand if it materializes.