Accidents and Closures Due to Snow and Icy Conditions in the North - Black ice and snow paralyze Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein roads
Heavy snow and black ice caused chaos across Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein on Friday, January 2, 2026. Multiple roads were closed, vehicles became stranded, and a bus slid off an icy road—though no serious injuries were reported in any of the incidents.
The Köhlbrand Bridge in Hamburg saw some of the worst disruption. Dozens of trucks and cars were stuck on the ice-covered road during the afternoon. One lorry skidded sideways, completely blocking the route. Police worked for six hours before road crews could clear the ice and reopen the bridge.
A tennis hall on Hemmingstedter Weg in Hamburg-Osdorf also suffered damage when its roof collapsed under the weight of heavy snow. Fortunately, no one was inside at the time. Elsewhere, the A7 motorway was shut southbound from Henstedt-Ulzburg toward Hamburg due to icy conditions. It reopened around 8:00 PM. The A23 between Pinneberg-South and Halstenbek/Rellingen faced a similar closure in both directions, reopening later at 9:30 PM. In the Pinneberg district, a public bus slid off an icy road and into a ditch. The driver and three passengers escaped unharmed, but the B431 near Sandweg was fully closed for recovery operations, with a detour put in place. Across the region, black ice and snow led to numerous minor accidents. Authorities reported no serious injuries in most cases.
Police and meteorological services have repeated warnings about icy roads. Drivers are being urged to slow down and take extra care in the hazardous winter conditions. The incidents highlight the ongoing risks as freezing temperatures persist.
