Winter Storm Elli Grips Northern Germany, Halting Rail Services and Daily Life

A powerful winter storm, dubbed "Elli" in Germany and "Goretti" in the United Kingdom, has brought much of northern Germany to a standstill, causing widespread travel chaos, school closures, and significant disruptions to daily life. As of Friday, January 9, 2026, severe weather warnings remain in effect, with heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and strong winds creating hazardous conditions across the region and beyond. Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany's national rail operator, has suspended long-distance train services in northern Germany and issued urgent advisories for regional travelers to expect significant delays and cancellations extending through the weekend.

Rail Network Paralysis and Broader Transport Disruptions

The most immediate and impactful consequence of Storm Elli has been the severe disruption to Germany's rail network. Deutsche Bahn announced a complete halt to long-distance train services in northern Germany, rendering major routes impassable. Affected long-distance connections include critical corridors such as Copenhagen to Hamburg, Westerland/Kiel to Hamburg, and Berlin routes originating from Binz, Stralsund, or Rostock. Services connecting Berlin with Hamburg and to North Rhine-Westphalia are also significantly impacted. Travelers attempting to reach Hanover from Norddeich/Emden or proceeding to Berlin, Frankfurt/Würzburg, or the Ruhr Area face cancellations. Even individual ICE trains on the Hamburg-Berlin, Cologne-Hanover-Berlin, and Oldenburg-Bremen-Hanover-Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe-Frankfurt-Karlsruhe routes are experiencing impairments.

Deutsche Bahn has implemented reduced speeds for its high-speed ICE trains on several key lines, including Berlin–Wolfsburg, Hanover–Würzburg, and Cologne–Rhine/Main, as a preventative measure against potential damage, which could add up to 30 minutes to travel times. The rail operator has advised all passengers who purchased tickets for travel between January 7 and January 10 to postpone their journeys, offering flexibility by lifting train-specific ticket restrictions and allowing free cancellation of seat reservations. Over 14,000 Deutsche Bahn employees have been mobilized to clear snow from tracks and platforms, highlighting the scale of the operational challenge.

Beyond rail, other modes of transport are also experiencing severe difficulties. Bus services have been suspended in various areas, and numerous roads and highways are closed or partially blocked due to snow accumulation and treacherous icy conditions. Reports indicate that dozens of trucks became stranded on the A7 motorway in the Lower Franconian district of Bad Kissingen, requiring towing services. Ferry services along the Lower Saxony North Sea coast have largely ceased, leaving several islands, including Langeoog, Spiekeroog, Norderney, and Wangerooge, inaccessible due to strong east winds pushing water away from the coast. Airports in Hamburg and Bremen have reported delays and cancellations, with some flights rerouted. Frankfurt Airport saw approximately 200 aircraft de-iced on Thursday as part of routine winter operations. Crucially for logistics and supply chains, operations in the Port of Hamburg were suspended as of Friday morning, with similar situations reported in other European ports. Rail freight operator METRANS has indicated that disruptions in the north of Germany, caused by extreme frost and over 20 centimeters of snow, could persist until the first half of next week, warning that "factories can literally grind to a halt."

Widespread Closures and Hazardous Conditions

The storm's reach extends beyond transportation, profoundly affecting public services and daily routines. Schools across Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Bremen, and parts of Schleswig-Holstein have canceled regular classes, with some offering distance learning or emergency childcare. Similar closures and options for excused absences are in place in regions of Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, and Berlin. The primary reason for school closures is the inability of school buses to operate safely and the inherent hazards of travel in current conditions. Daycare centers and kindergartens are also impacted in affected areas.

The German Weather Service (DWD) has forecast significant snowfall, with 10 to 15 centimeters of fresh snow expected in many parts of the affected regions, and up to 20 centimeters in low mountain ranges. Some areas in the north and northeast could see up to 25 centimeters of new snow. Strong winds are contributing to fast-forming snowdrifts, further exacerbating travel conditions. A dangerous corridor of freezing rain is also predicted to stretch from Bremen through Hanover to Berlin, posing a high risk of extreme icing on roads, pavements, and rail lines. The DWD has warned of rapidly deteriorating conditions, urging residents to avoid non-essential travel. Emergency services are on high alert to respond to accidents and assist stranded individuals.

Escalating Cold and European-wide Impact

As Storm Elli progresses, temperatures are expected to plummet further, raising additional concerns. Forecasts indicate that temperatures in Berlin will drop sharply after Saturday, January 10. By early Sunday, parts of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern could see lows near minus 12 degrees Celsius, while Lower Saxony and Thuringia may experience minus 17 degrees, and Saxony could face temperatures around minus 20 degrees Celsius. These extreme sub-zero temperatures render road salt ineffective, increasing the risk of prolonged traffic standstills and making conditions even more perilous. Authorities have advised pedestrians to avoid forests due to the risk of falling branches or trees under the weight of snow and wind.

The impact of Storm Elli, known as Goretti in Britain, is not confined to Germany. It is part of a broader, severe winter system affecting much of Western Europe. The storm has caused widespread power outages in France's Normandy region, affecting hundreds of thousands of households, and brought high-level red wind alerts to the British Isles of Scilly and Cornwall. The severe weather conditions across Europe have been linked to at least eight fatalities. The ruling Christian Democratic Party (CDU) in Germany even canceled its first major party meeting of the year due to the worsening weather.

Outlook for Recovery

The German Weather Service anticipates that the storm will gradually subside, with snowfall expected to ease by the afternoon and evening on Friday. However, the low temperatures and the freezing of accumulated snow will continue to pose significant challenges, particularly for transportation networks. While the storm itself is expected to move east towards the Czech Republic by Saturday, the aftermath of heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold will necessitate ongoing recovery efforts throughout the weekend and into next week. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging caution and patience from the public as they work to restore normalcy.