Bremen’s snow chaos after Winter Storm Elli sparks outrage and demands for reform

Days of icy sidewalks and blocked roads left residents furious. Now, politicians are demanding answers—and a plan to prevent another winter disaster.

, and Administrator

2026 January 14 . 5:31 AM

1 min read

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Bremen’s snow chaos after Winter Storm Elli sparks outrage and demands for reform

Bremen has faced sharp criticism over its response to Winter Storm Elli. Days after the storm, many streets, sidewalks and bike paths remained covered in snow. Residents and opposition politicians have questioned whether the city was prepared for such extreme weather.

The city deployed 70 snowplows and 30 rapid-response vehicles—numbers unchanged from previous winters. Despite this, Stadtreinigung, the municipal cleaning service, admitted it was overwhelmed by the sudden and heavy snowfall. Officials insisted they followed the priority list for clearing routes but struggled to keep up.

Michael Jonitz, the CDU’s mobility spokesperson, condemned the delays. He argued that the slow response left roads and pavements unsafe for far too long. The CDU has now demanded a detailed report to prevent similar issues in future winter crises. Questions have also surfaced about who bears responsibility for snow removal. Some residents pointed to unclear roles between the city, contractors and local districts, adding to the confusion during the storm.

The fallout from Winter Storm Elli has put pressure on Bremen to rethink its winter preparedness. Stadtreinigung maintains it acted according to protocol, yet the delays have sparked calls for better planning. A CDU-backed review aims to ensure faster and clearer responses when extreme weather strikes again.