2026-05-18
Germany’s weather service said Monday that a late cold snap could still bring light frost to parts of the country, even after the traditional mid-May cold spell known as the Eisheiligen has passed.
The German Weather Service, or DWD, said the risk is limited and no widespread return of winter weather is expected. But in the night into Tuesday, temperatures could fall enough in some valleys and low-lying areas to cause light ground frost, especially where skies clear, winds weaken and local fog forms.
The areas most at risk are parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Baden-Württemberg. In North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse, the DWD forecast lows between 7 and 3 degrees Celsius, with only a slight chance of ground frost in isolated valley and basin locations. In Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, temperatures could also drop to 7 to 3 degrees, and in some valleys and basins as low as 1 degree, making light frost near the ground slightly more likely.
Baden-Württemberg could also see frosty conditions in places. The DWD said overnight lows there may range from 8 to 1 degree Celsius, with light ground frost possible along the Danube and on the Swabian Alb.
Bavaria is also expected to turn chilly, especially overnight into Tuesday. In northern Bavaria, lows are forecast between 8 and 4 degrees Celsius, while southern Bavaria could see 10 to 4 degrees. The DWD did not specifically mention ground frost for Bavaria in its latest outlook. In the Alps, however, snow is possible above about 1,700 meters during Monday afternoon and into Tuesday night. On Zugspitze, temperatures may briefly reach around or below freezing.
Elsewhere in Germany, frost is not expected to be a concern under the current forecast. In the north and east, nighttime lows are mostly expected between about 4 and 12 degrees Celsius. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Berlin and Brandenburg, as well as Saxony, some places may dip to around 4 degrees, but the DWD did not include any warning about ground frost there.
Daytime temperatures are expected to recover across much of the country later in the week. The DWD said highs of around 17 to 23 degrees Celsius are likely in many regions. The weather will remain unsettled, with showers, isolated thunderstorms, nighttime fog and some periods of rain expected in different parts of Germany.