1. Current winter situation and the question: Will schools be closed on Monday?
A sudden winter storm brought heavy snow, widespread ice and extremely low temperatures to many parts of Germany in the second week of January. Schools have already been affected in several areas, and many parents and students are asking: will classes be cancelled on Monday? The short answer is: it depends. Decisions are being made regionally and sometimes even by individual school, and they often come at short notice.
Key factors for whether schools close include ongoing snowfall, widespread black ice (glatteis), the state of public transport, road and bus safety, and official weather warnings from the national weather service. Because these conditions can change quickly, local authorities usually decide only shortly before school starts.
2. What happened so far: examples of regional responses
Hamburg and fully suspended in-person classes
In Hamburg, authorities declared an exceptional situation after heavy snow and ice. For one Friday, in-person classes were fully suspended and only emergency childcare for younger children remained open. Parents were strongly advised to avoid unnecessary travel for safety reasons.
Lower Saxony and widespread local closures
Lower Saxony reported many school closures and switches to distance learning in several districts. Local authorities pointed out that school bus operation and road safety were central to their decisions, and some areas simply could not guarantee safe transportation.
Berlin: temporary suspension of attendance rules
In Berlin, the education authority temporarily suspended the attendance requirement for one day, allowing parents to decide whether to keep children at home without penalty. Officials noted that the situation was treated as an exception and that regular in-person teaching was expected to resume the following Monday unless new warnings arrived.
North Sea islands and transport-related closures
On some North Sea islands, schools closed completely because ferry and bus services were canceled. When transport links are interrupted, reaching school can become impossible and closures become the only practical solution.
3. How school closure decisions are made
There is no single nationwide rule for school closures during extreme winter weather. In Germany, decisions are typically made by local school authorities, district administrations or individual school principals. They consider several elements: weather warnings from the national weather service, forecasts of snow and ice, status of local roads, condition of school buildings (heating, accessibility), and the reliability of school transport.
Authorities often follow this routine: monitor official weather warnings, assess transport and road reports, consult the school district and municipal emergency services, then announce closures or the continuation of classes. Because conditions can change quickly, many announcements arrive late in the evening or in the early morning before classes start.
4. Public transport, buses and ferries: why they matter
School attendance depends heavily on public transport and school bus services. Snow, severe drifting and black ice cause delays, canceled runs and route changes in regional and local services. If buses or ferries are not running, many students cannot reach school safely, forcing local authorities to cancel classes or switch to remote learning.
When planning whether to send children to school, parents should consider whether their usual transport will operate and whether walking to a pick-up point is safe. Even when a school remains officially open, interrupted transport can make attendance impossible in practice.
5. Legal and practical rights for parents and students
Parents are often legally protected if they keep children at home because the route to school is unsafe, even without an official school closure. Local rules vary, so it is important to check guidance from the relevant education authority or school. Many places explicitly allow parents to judge the safety of the school route and to inform the school if they keep a child at home for safety reasons.
Schools that remain open may offer emergency childcare or expect students to participate in distance learning when possible. If your child’s school can provide remote lessons, make sure you can access those systems and understand how absences are recorded.
6. Practical advice for parents and students
Plan ahead and prepare for short-notice changes. Pack a school bag that includes warm clothing, extra gloves and a phone charger, and keep contact details for your child’s school or teacher handy. If your child relies on a school bus, check the transport provider’s status early in the morning.
- Monitor official weather warnings and local announcements the evening before and early Monday morning.
- If you judge the school route unsafe, inform the school and keep your child at home; document your message.
- Prepare for possible remote learning: charge devices and have login details ready.
- Dress children in layers and ensure good footwear to reduce slipping on ice.
- Use alternative routes or stay home if sidewalks or roads are not cleared.
7. Safety tips for travel and outdoor activities
Avoid unnecessary trips while ice and snow conditions persist. If you must travel, allow extra time, drive slowly and keep a safe distance to other vehicles. For pedestrians, walk carefully, wear shoes with good grip and avoid walking under tree branches that may be heavy with snow.
Authorities also warn against risky outdoor activities such as forest walks during heavy snow and wind, because falling branches or trees can be dangerous. Prioritize safety over schedules.
Regarding de-icing: traditional rock salt becomes less effective at very low temperatures. Where salt use is limited for environmental reasons, responsible alternatives like sand or certified grit may be used to improve traction while protecting wildlife and plants.
8. How to stay informed: where to look for timely updates
Because local decisions can change quickly, rely on official local sources: your school’s communication channels (email, phone, parent portals), municipal websites, regional education authority updates and national weather service warnings. Many regions also publish urgent notices through official warning apps and local transport operators.
- Check your school’s messages and local authority announcements late Sunday evening and early Monday morning.
- Follow local transport operator messages for bus and ferry changes.
- Sign up for official alert services if your municipality offers them.
9. The outlook for Monday: what to expect
The weather forecast and regional infrastructure will determine whether classes are suspended on Monday. In many places authorities expect the storm to continue through the weekend, and in particularly affected areas—where forecasters warned of black ice and heavy snow—further closures are possible. Some regions that experienced closures on Friday expect to resume normal lessons on Monday unless new warnings arrive, while other districts have already signaled that local decisions will be made late Sunday or early Monday.
For example, when authorities issue a formal ice warning for a specific county, that can lead to school-by-school discussions and late announcements. That uncertainty means parents should check communications frequently and be ready to adapt plans at short notice.
10. Summary checklist
To recap: there is no single nationwide answer to whether classes will be cancelled on Monday. The situation is regional, depends on weather and transport, and can change quickly. Parents should stay informed, prioritize safety, and be prepared for remote learning or short-notice school closures.
- Monitor official local sources and school messages.
- If the school route is unsafe, keep children at home and notify the school.
- Prepare for remote learning with charged devices and login details.
- Dress warmly and avoid unnecessary travel while conditions are severe.
- Be ready for late announcements: decisions often come early Monday morning.
