Lightning ice alarm on German roads – fire brigade in a state of emergency

German streets and sidewalks became slippery early Thursday evening due to freezing drizzle. The DWD warned on Friday.

Berlin – Dangerous ice poses problems for pedestrians and… Drivers in parts of Germany face dangerous challenges. There were several accidents, particularly in the north and center of Germany. The German Weather Service continues to warn of frost and fog as well as black ice on the roads in some regions.

Black ice on German roads – the German Weather Service continues to warn of freezing drizzle

Already on Thursday afternoon (January 11th), the German Weather Service warned of an increased risk of slippery conditions due to freezing moisture. Caution was called for. In Berlin, the population was informed via the Nina warning app: “Striking slipperiness” can be expected throughout the city, especially on the sidewalks. There were also warnings in the district, among other places Borkenin Paderborn and in Münster, where a farmers' demonstration with around 1,900 tractors took place in the evening.

The German Weather Service also announced on Friday morning (January 12th). Warning report for Germany No all-clear yet: “Danger of local black ice in the center and north until the morning. Mostly light to moderate, severe frost on the edge of the Alps. There is also fog in some areas.” Drizzle is also expected from the coast to the central mountains. When temperatures are freezing, there is an acute risk of black ice on the streets and sidewalks.

State of emergency in Berlin – “Only call the emergency services in emergencies!”

In Berlin, on the evening of January 11th, the fire department called on All available ambulances are manned and in use. All #FF are called into service. Only call the emergency services in emergencies!”

Also in Lower Saxony People had to prepare for slippery streets and sidewalks in the evening. An official warning about slippery conditions caused by freezing rain was in effect in a strip between Uelzen and Göttingen via the Hanover region to Osnabrück and southern Emsland. Only the north of Lower Saxony was not affected.

Several accidents due to black ice on the roads throughout Germany

In Westerstede (Ammerland district) in the evening, a man drove his vehicle off the road due to thick fog, was trapped between two trees and seriously injured. On Autobahn 72 near Hartenstein, a man crashed his car into the median barrier. No one was injured in the accident; according to the police, the property damage amounted to around 27,000 euros. Tagesschau.de reports on several traffic accidents in Berlin and Brandenburg. A man is said to have died in Berlin. The circumstances have not yet been clarified.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, there were a dozen accidents without personal injuries in the city of Hamm alone due to slippery conditions. On Thursday evening, the A2 motorway towards Hanover was briefly closed due to black ice. As the Bielefeld police announced on X (formerly Twitter), it is now passable again. There were also several accidents on the Autobahn 40 and 57 in North Rhine-Westphalia in the Moers fire department's operational area: “In total, the lightning ice caused 13 injured people; a total of around 20 vehicles were involved,” it says in one Press release the firebrigade. (mh/dpa)