Biden was originally due in Germany last week for a multi-day visit that would have included a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The pair were set to exchange words at the Ramstein US air base in western Germany during a meeting of Ukraine's backers, where they were expected to discuss continuing support for Kyiv as it looks to hold off Russian forces.
That appointment was postponed as Hurricane Milton barrelled down towards Florida, where the storm ended up killing at least 16 people and causing an estimated $50 billion in damage.
But the outgoing US leader was at pains to make his valedictory Germany trip nonetheless, with the stripped-down programme now squeezed into a one-day flying visit from late Thursday.
Biden had been a good friend to Germany and had overseen "an incredible improvement in cooperation in recent years", Scholz said Wednesday in parliament.
"We have a lot to discuss about the major crises and challenges we are facing," Scholz said.
Berlin visit
As well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the pair will likely discuss the situation in the Middle East a year into the war pitching Israel against Hamas and its allies.
The United States and Germany have backed Israel's right to defend itself but pushed for a way to bring an end to the conflict and avoid further escalation and a possible regional conflagration.
The US president and the chancellor could be joined for talks by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to unconfirmed media reports.
The four-way meeting between the leaders was meant to take place last week before Biden's visit was cancelled.
On Friday in Berlin, Biden will also meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is set to present the US leader with the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, the country's highest honour.
Steinmeier's office said this was to recognise Biden's "services to German-American friendship and the transatlantic alliance... in particular in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine".
Biden's visit comes just weeks ahead of the US election with the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump too close to call.
European defence
Trump's tumultuous presidency saw significant strain put on relations between Washington and Berlin, with the US leader scolding Germany and others for spending too little on NATO's common defence.
Some alliance members fear a win for Trump on November 5 could dilute the United States' commitment to European security and see an end to military support for Ukraine.
Germany has been Ukraine's second largest military backer behind the United States, but Kyiv is still highly dependent on the US to support its war effort.
Biden would use the trip to Europe to send a signal "how important US support is for Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression", Daniela Schwarzer, foreign relations expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation said.
The US president, who dramatically pulled out of the race for reelection earlier this year, was also likely to have a "behind closed doors" message for European leaders, Schwarzer said in advance of Biden's initially planned visit.
With the US election in sight, Biden would stress "how important it is that the Europeans prepare themselves to take on even more responsibility in supporting Ukraine".