Arctic Air Influx Brings Widespread Icy Conditions to Central Europe

Widespread hazardous winter weather is currently affecting large swaths of Central Europe as of November 23, 2025, characterized by a significant influx of snow, ice, and freezing rain moving in from the northwest. This meteorological event is part of a broader pattern where an Arctic cold blast is sweeping south across the continent, with forecasts indicating temperatures plunging well below seasonal averages in many areas.

German meteorological services, including the German Weather Service (DWD), have issued explicit warnings concerning nationwide traffic disruption due to pervasive slick road conditions and sub-freezing temperatures. The DWD utilizes automated systems like 'Wettergefahren-Frühwarnung' to calculate variables such as black ice and fresh snow for approximately 2800 cities, operating on a 96-hour forecast period based on the 00 UTC-GFS-Model Run. Freezing rain, where supercooled water droplets instantly freeze upon contact with frozen ground, presents an extreme hazard, particularly in southern German territories where precipitation is falling onto already cold surfaces, causing severe icing events.

This dynamic mirrors conditions seen during previous winter outbreaks, such as in January 2024 when the low-pressure system 'Gertrud' caused significant disruption, including trapping motorists on the A3 highway and forcing cancellations at major hubs like Frankfurt Airport. In Bavaria, a state frequently vulnerable to such weather, police reported numerous accidents during a prior event, underscoring the immediate danger to road users from black ice and snow-covered roads.

Meteorological observations point to a rare sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event over the North Pole, which weakens the polar vortex and allows cold Arctic air to surge south—a phenomenon last observed this early in November in 1958. This atmospheric setup increases the likelihood of an easterly wind bringing frosty air from Russia into Central Europe, potentially leading to extended periods of frost in the lowlands from late November well into December.

For the transport sector, these conditions present systemic challenges that test the resilience of infrastructure networks, despite high rail density in the region. In areas such as Berlin and Brandenburg, forecasts for the start of the week indicated potential light snowfall and brief periods of freezing rain, prompting authorities to advise motorists to maintain greater following distances and plan for extended travel times. The cumulative effect of such weather volatility across the continent highlights the vulnerability of transport systems to intense, early Arctic intrusions.