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The primary objective of this paper was to determine the circulation conditions of the occurrence of cold spells in Poland and Germany. The observed inconsiderable warming slightly contributed to a change in the number of cold days and cold spells. The occurrence of cold spells in Poland and Germany was related to considerably more active and intensive pressure systems than on average in the winter season in the studied years. A strong high pressure system was located over much of the continent, blocking westerly circulation. During the occurrence of cold spells, negative anomalies of isobaric surface heights were recorded with the greatest anomalies being in the 300-250hPa heights. The highest air temperature anomalies were recorded on the lowest isobaric levels, where they amounted to <-10 degrees C. On average, anomalies on the 300hPa isobaric level began developing approximately 9 days before the beginning of cold spells over the study area. The decay of cold spells was not related to rapid exchange of air masses, but rather to gradual weakening of anomalies in the upper troposphere, and their shifting westwards.