Berlin braces for extreme cold as temperatures plunge below -10°C again

The city's icy grip tightens as authorities warn of hazardous roads and sidewalks. Will Berlin's emergency measures hold against the relentless cold?

, and ASMedia

2026 January 31 . 5:16 PM

1 min read

The image shows two people walking down a snowy street in Berlin, Germany. The street is lined with... — The image shows two people walking down a snowy street in Berlin, Germany. The street is lined with buildings, poles, and vehicles, and the sky is visible in the background. At the bottom of the image, there is some text.

Cold wave in Berlin - no cluster of severe accidents - Berlin braces for extreme cold as temperatures plunge below -10°C again

Berlin is bracing for another bout of extreme winter weather as temperatures plunge into the double-digit negatives. The German Weather Service has warned that frigid conditions will persist, with scattered light snow expected at the start of the new week.

The city has already faced prolonged icy conditions since mid-January 2026. Sidewalks became dangerously slippery, leading Transport Senator Ute Bonde to issue an emergency order on January 30. This allowed the use of de-icing salt after a legislative proposal from January 12 failed to pass.

Over the weekend, Berlin avoided major traffic disruptions despite the bitter cold. Police confirmed no fatal or serious-injury crashes as of Saturday afternoon. The Fire Department also reported no unusual increase in emergency callouts.

The German Weather Service now predicts further wintry challenges. Light snow is forecast for the beginning of the week, while overnight temperatures on Sunday and Monday could drop well below -10°C.

The city remains under a persistent cold snap, with authorities monitoring conditions closely. While emergency services have seen no surge in incidents so far, the ongoing freeze and fresh snow will likely test Berlin's preparedness in the days ahead.