Dangerous slippery roads: DWD warns of accidents in northern Germany!

Dangerous slippery roads: DWD warns of accidents in northern Germany!

Winter conditions have Germany firmly in their grip and call for extra caution on the roads today, December 27, 2025. The German Weather Service (DWD) has issued a warning of significant slippery conditions in the northern and eastern halves of the country. Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are particularly affected, where there were numerous accidents at night.

In Lower Saxony, for example, a serious accident occurred this morning on Autobahn 1 near Wildeshausen. In this incident, five vehicles collided with each other, resulting in 13 injuries. The road was so slippery that it was almost indistinguishable from ice. Emergency responders on scene struggled to move and had to exercise extreme caution to avoid further incidents. There were also over a dozen accidents during the night in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The headquarters in Neubrandenburg counted 15 operations by early morning, with two drivers being slightly injured. One of them, a 26-year-old, got off the B198 due to improper speed and had to be taken to hospital.

Risk of slippery conditions despite gritting services

The warnings from the DWD are clear: from Friday evening there was a warning of “marked slippery conditions” due to freezing rain and fog. In Hamburg and southern Schleswig-Holstein, roads were already slippery in places on Friday evening. The Hamburg fire department responded to around 60 operations due to slippery conditions. Another accident on Autobahn 25 near Curslack caused two cars to slide into each other and four people were slightly injured. The roads were so dangerous that this highway had to be closed for around two and a half hours.

There is an increased risk of black ice for the entire northeast of Germany. The DWD recommends taking particular care when driving in these regions. The winter service's gritting vehicles are in constant use to at least somewhat improve the road conditions. But those responsible advise only using the car if absolutely necessary.

Outlook and weather conditions

The current weather situation shows a high pressure influence south of Iceland, while the northern half of Germany is receiving increasingly humid air. This not only causes frost, but also drizzle and mist, which creates black ice conditions until the morning. Temperatures range from -1 to -9 degrees, with a slight frost everywhere except the far north.

Looking ahead to the coming days, meteorologists report that there could still be slippery conditions caused by freezing drizzle on Sunday night. Additionally, snowfall is even possible on Monday and Tuesday, which could further intensify wintry conditions. Drivers and pedestrians should therefore continue to be careful and pay attention to road conditions.

The rapid changes in the weather and the associated dangers make it clear how important it is to be well prepared. Whether on the road or on a walk, slippery conditions are no fun and can have serious consequences.

For further information on this, take a look at the reports from the DWD, Tagesschau and Weather Hazards, which are constantly updated and provide helpful information.