Europe Braces for Bitter Cold Wave as Temperatures Plummet to -20°C
A bitter cold wave is set to sweep across parts of Europe, bringing extreme temperatures and heavy snow. Meteorologists in Germany have warned of a sharp drop in temperatures, with nighttime lows plunging to -20°C by late January. Meanwhile, southern Russia has already faced severe snowfall, prompting emergency responses from local authorities.
In Germany, forecasters Dominik Jung and Martin Puchegger issued warnings on January 16, 2026, about an impending cold snap. Jung, speaking in a wetter.net YouTube video, predicted icy air from the east would push temperatures as low as -20°C at night. Puchegger’s 16-day trend on wetter.com confirmed the sudden freeze, with daytime highs struggling to rise above -5°C in many areas. Wind gusts of 20 m/s are expected, with stronger bursts of 24–29 m/s possible by Sunday.
Light snow is forecast for Sunday, followed by drier conditions on Monday. Coastal regions will see slightly milder nights, between -3°C and -8°C, but inland areas face harsher cold, with overnight lows from -7°C to -17°C. In southern Russia, heavy snow has already blanketed districts like Krymsky, Abinsky, and Seversky. Governor Veniamin Kondratyev activated a regional emergency task force to manage the aftermath. Snow clearance operations are underway, with 383 workers and 347 machines—including 47 motor graders, 196 road maintenance vehicles, and a rotary snowplow—deployed to keep routes open. Along the Black Sea coast, partly cloudy skies may bring light snow on Sunday.
The cold wave will bring freezing conditions to Germany, with nighttime temperatures dropping dramatically by late January. In Russia, emergency crews continue clearing heavy snow, while residents brace for further wintry weather. Authorities in both regions remain on alert as the severe conditions persist.
