Black Ice Warning Issued for Berlin and Brandenburg as Temperatures Rise
Berlin, January 13, 2026 – The German Weather Service (DWD) has issued a new black ice warning for Berlin and Brandenburg, effective from 6 PM today until Wednesday, 8 AM. This warning comes as temperatures are slowly rising, causing snow to melt into rain, which then freezes on the still-cold ground. Drivers are urged to exercise extreme caution.
Hazardous Conditions Lead to Accidents
Already on Tuesday morning, extreme black ice conditions led to several accidents on the Berliner Ring. The DWD’s renewed warning highlights the ongoing danger, especially during the evening and overnight hours when temperatures are expected to drop again.
A spokesperson for the Berlin Fire Department reported a high volume of emergency calls due to falls on icy sidewalks. “Since around 7 AM, when people started going to work, the number of alarms for falls on black ice has increased,” said the spokesperson. “Since then, the number of deployments has been rising. We have deployed additional rescue vehicles.”
Airport Operations and Public Transport
At Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), only isolated flights were canceled due to weather conditions, for example, flights to Vienna. Otherwise, winter operations have been stable, with delays remaining within limits. “During the night, rain caused icy surfaces, but our winter service was in high-performance operation since 2 AM to de-ice the air traffic areas so that operations could start normally at 6 AM,” said BER spokesman Dennis Dobrowolski. He added that numerous aircraft were de-iced before takeoff in the morning and forenoon. Dobrowolski recommended that passengers regularly check the status of their flights.
Public transport in Berlin, operated by BVG, reported no weather-related restrictions on its lines by Tuesday afternoon. However, ferry services remained suspended due to ice on the waterways. “We thank all passengers for their patience when things were a bit slower on the roads this morning and all colleagues of BSR for their efforts,” the BVG stated.
Beyond the Roads: Other Weather-Related Incidents
Beyond the immediate dangers of black ice, the recent cold snap has also caused other incidents. A woman and her three-year-old daughter were trapped in an elevator at S-Bahn station Schöneweide for three hours due to a power outage. In Grube (Potsdam-Mittelmark), the roof of a cow shed housing 250 animals collapsed on Sunday afternoon, reportedly under the weight of snow. Approximately 20 animals were trapped, but all were successfully rescued.
The Tiergartentunnel remains closed due to difficulties in removing ice, with the BSR (Berlin’s street cleaning department) making a second attempt to clear the tunnel. The traffic information center advised that the downhill slope of the tunnel makes ice removal particularly challenging.
Police Warn Against Entering Icy Waters
The Berlin police have issued a strong warning against entering frozen lakes, emphasizing the life-threatening danger of thawing ice. “Do not enter ice surfaces,” the police wrote online. “Frozen waters quickly lose their bearing capacity with rising temperatures. What seemed safe yesterday can be treacherous and thin today.” They specifically highlighted the shore areas and places with currents as particularly critical. Parents are advised not to let children play unsupervised near water, and everyone is urged to warn others.
Outlook for the Coming Days
The German Weather Service predicts cloudy conditions and occasional rain for Wednesday in Berlin and Brandenburg, with temperatures ranging between 4 and 7 degrees Celsius. Thursday will start heavily cloudy with some fog and light drizzle, with temperatures rising to 2 to 6 degrees. Friday is expected to be partly sunny, partly overcast with high fog, and highs between 4 and 6 degrees. Nighttime temperatures will hover around freezing point.
Source: morgenpost.de
