German Unemployment Hits 12-Year High — What It Means for Europe in 2026

Berlin—A record-breaking winter blast has paralysed northern and central Germany, as Storm Elli (internationally dubbed Goretti) drives Arctic air southward, plunging temperatures as low as –20 °C and dumping up to 25 cm of snow across the country. Rail operator Deutsche Bahn halted all long-distance services north of Hanover after drifts buried tracks and iced overhead lines, mobilising 14,000 workers to keep priority corridors open. Berlin–Hamburg and Cologne–Dortmund trains remain suspended, while Munich–Frankfurt ICE routes face rolling delays. Hamburg’s Köhlbrand Bridge and sections of the A5, A7 and A24 motorways have also closed repeatedly for snow clearance, stranding hundreds of lorries overnight. The German Weather Service (DWD) issued rare red snow and black-ice warnings for Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, urging residents to avoid non-essential travel. Meteorologist Andreas Walter described the event as “an outlier in a warming climate that still delivers extreme cold snaps,” adding that wind-chill values could hit –30 °C in exposed areas. Schools in Bremen, Hamburg and parts of North Rhine-Westphalia cancelled classes, and ferry links to East Frisian islands were cut. Aviation is equally crippled: Lufthansa and Eurowings grounded dozens of flights at Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin, while firefighting crews battled frozen hydrants on runways. Airports warn that de-icing fluid supplies are running low as another snow band approaches. Power grids remain stable, yet energy traders report a spike in demand that pushed day-ahead electricity prices above €300/MWh, the highest January level since 2021. Grid operator TenneT activated reserve gas turbines to secure supply and asked large industrial users to prepare for possible curtailments. Officials urge motorists to pack blankets, power banks and tire chains; more than 1,200 breakdowns were logged by ADAC in the first 12 hours of the storm. Emergency shelters have opened in Hanover, Kassel and Leipzig for commuters unable to reach home. Forecast outlook • Tonight: heavy snow pushes east, reaching Berlin by midnight; risk of freezing rain south of the Harz mountains. • Saturday: secondary low over the North Sea feeds polar air into the Rhine-Ruhr region; fresh 10–15 cm possible. • Sunday–Monday: high pressure builds, skies clear, temperatures plunge to –22 °C in Bavarian valleys; widespread black ice likely. Travel advice 1. Check bahn.de and local transport apps before departure; most saver tickets are being honoured on alternative dates without rebooking fees. 2. If driving cannot be postponed, reduce speed, keep a 50 m distance and avoid using cruise control on snow-covered roads. 3. In case of power outages, use battery radios for updates and never heat indoor spaces with charcoal grills or gas cookers. Climate context Germany’s last nationwide deep-freeze of this magnitude struck in February 2012; scientists warn that a warming North Atlantic can still spawn blocking highs that funnel Siberian air into Central Europe, creating rarer but more violent cold waves. With fresh snowfall forecast through Sunday, travellers should brace for extended disruptions and monitor official channels for real-time alerts.