Germany's deep freeze shuts schools and paralyzes transport networks
Heavy snow and freezing temperatures have brought much of Germany to a standstill. Educational institutions remain shut in several regions, while transport networks struggle with icy conditions. Even the country's largest inland lake has frozen over completely for the first time this winter.
In Bavaria and Lower Saxony, educational facilities stayed closed on January 27 as snow and ice made travel unsafe. Erlangen officials took extra precautions, shutting classrooms over fears that snow-laden trees could collapse near school buildings. Further north, Kulmbach and Vechta also cancelled in-person lessons, with Vechta halting all student transport services.
Rail services faced severe delays after overhead lines iced up and switches froze. Berlin's tram network saw temporary stoppages, adding to travel chaos across the region.
Meanwhile, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Müritz lake has frozen solid. Domenik Oldenburg of the Waterways and Shipping Authority confirmed on January 27 that the entire lake—Germany's largest inland body of water—now sits under a closed ice sheet. Measurements show the ice is between 20 and 25 centimetres thick along the shoreline.
The deep freeze has disrupted daily life across multiple states. With schools closed, transport delayed, and even large lakes frozen, authorities continue monitoring conditions. Further updates on service resumptions and safety measures are expected in the coming days.
