Germany Shuts All Schools Monday Over Deadly Black Ice Threat
Schools across Germany will close on Monday, 12 January 2026, due to severe black ice warnings. The decision follows alerts from the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) about freezing rain and hazardous road conditions overnight. Education authorities have prioritised safety, shifting lessons online and offering emergency childcare for those in need.
The national meteorological service issued urgent warnings about widespread black ice forming late Sunday. Freezing rain was forecast to create treacherous conditions for travel by Monday morning.
In response, Education Minister Christine Streichert-Clivot emphasised the need to protect students and staff. Her counterpart in North Rhine-Westphalia, Dorothee Feller (CDU), announced a statewide shutdown of schools for the day. Under the Digital Education Act (Digitale-Bildung-Gesetz, or DiBiG), authorities can implement broad measures during emergencies. Classes will move to remote learning, ensuring education continues despite the weather. Families unable to supervise children at home will still have access to emergency childcare services.
The closure affects schools nationwide, with remote teaching replacing in-person lessons. Emergency childcare remains available for pupils who cannot stay home. The decision follows legal provisions designed for exceptional weather-related risks.
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