Following DWD forecasts, Storm Low Elli has brought heavy snowfalls and gale-force winds to Germany, worst in the north. Schools are shut across Lower Saxony and parts of Schleswig-Holstein, transport is curtailed, and life-threatening conditions persist amid snow drifts and black ice.
Storm Low Elli, the system warned about earlier by the German Weather Service (DWD), has intensified as predicted, delivering storm-like snowfalls of up to 15 cm in lowlands and 20 cm in hills within 12 hours, especially in Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, Berlin, and Saxony on Friday. Nationwide gusts, combined with snow and ice, are creating drifts and frost hazards.
Authorities have responded decisively: All Lower Saxony schools are closed Friday with no attendance required in Berlin. Schleswig-Holstein closed schools in nine districts only, sparking criticism over inconsistent family impacts. Transport Minister Schnieder advises staying home. Deutsche Bahn has cut long-distance services in the north, North Sea ferries are suspended, and Hamburg's Moia buses halted. Baltic Sea areas face snowstorms and black ice.
The DWD urges indoor sheltering, full fuel tanks, and warm blankets. Snow continues until Sunday, easing Saturday.
