Severe winter weather in Hungary: authorities may issue travel warnings due to freezing rain

Hungarian authorities have urged the public to exercise extreme caution as severe winter weather continues across the country, warning that no one should travel in areas where freezing rain alerts are in effect, regardless of the alert level.

Weather in Hungary – latest information

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, the spokesperson of the National Directorate General for Disaster Management said that while no weather alerts are currently in force, conditions could deteriorate rapidly in the coming hours.

“If freezing rain warnings are issued—whether yellow, orange, or red—people in the affected areas should avoid travelling altogether,” the spokesperson stressed.

Roads and railways: situation stabilising, but risks remain

Despite the harsh conditions over the weekend, authorities confirmed that there are currently no isolated settlements or closed road sections anywhere in Hungary. On Sunday, several roads in central Transdanubia were temporarily closed due to snowdrifts, with snow accumulation reaching up to 20 centimetres in some places. These closures were lifted by Sunday evening.

Road maintenance crews worked continuously throughout the weekend, deploying around 150 machines nationwide to clear snow and carry out de-icing operations.

Rail transport was temporarily disrupted on Sunday due to frozen railway switches, forcing the use of replacement buses on several lines and causing delays of 35 to 90 minutes. By Monday, most services had returned to near-normal operation, with delays reduced to 5–10 minutes. A small number of rural settlements remain inaccessible by bus, though all are reachable by car.

Authorities emphasized that public services, healthcare, air traffic, and inland water transport are operating normally.

Ice on rivers: strict safety rules apply

Ice drift has been observed on both the Danube and the Tisza rivers, with continuous ice cover forming on some sections. Icebreaker vessels are on standby, though deployment has not yet been necessary.

Officials reiterated that stepping onto river ice is strictly prohibited everywhere. On lakes and other still waters, access to ice is permitted only where the managing authority has officially measured ice thickness of at least 10–12 centimetres and designated the area as safe.

Emergency responses and community support

Firefighters were called out to 54 locations on Sunday in connection with the extreme weather. Notably, 41 building fires were reported—higher than average for this time of year—though no ice-rescue operations were required.

Police responded to 106 traffic accidents, none of which were fatal, though 12 resulted in injuries.

Authorities also focused on protecting vulnerable populations. Emergency services and the military checked on 2,544 elderly people living alone, while ambulance crews responded to 3,432 call-outs, including nearly 600 trauma-related cases.

Volunteers played a crucial role as well. Between January 6 and 11, 30,000–35,000 civil guards took part in emergency assistance efforts nationwide, with 5,000–6,000 volunteers on duty each day. According to officials, their work helped save at least seven lives.

Also interesting, Hungarian town makes local bus services free due to severe winter weather.

What comes next: freezing rain expected

According to the latest forecast from HungaroMet, new precipitation will reach Hungary from late Monday evening. Snow is expected in western regions, followed by a risk of freezing rain, particularly in Transdanubia and northwestern areas. In eastern Hungary, temperatures could drop to –15°C.

In Budapest, the Budapest Public Utilities has urged motorists to use public transport where possible and to travel only with properly maintained vehicles fitted with winter tyres. Preventive de-icing is already underway across the capital, following a strict priority order starting with bridges, main roads, and public transport routes.

Officials warned that stalled or sliding vehicles not only increase accident risk but also obstruct snow-clearing operations, and asked drivers not to overtake gritting and snowplough vehicles.

The key message from the authorities: travel warnings

As freezing rain poses one of the most dangerous winter hazards, authorities are issuing a clear and unified message:

If a freezing rain alert is in effect in your area, stay at home if you can and postpone travel. Doing so protects not only individual safety but also supports emergency responders and road maintenance crews working under extremely difficult conditions.

Read more news about the weather in Budapest and the weather in Hungary

Read also:

After Lake Balaton, the Danube is starting to freeze too: But stepping on the ice could be fatal!

Snowdrift warnings issued in several regions in Hungary: Avoid travelling unless absolutely necessary