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WEATHER

Deadly storms batter western Germany

One man was killed by a falling tree and Frankfurt airport had to be temporarily closed as fierce storms battered much of Germany on Wednesday night.

Deadly storms batter western Germany
Photo: DPA

Western parts of the country bore the brunt of storm front, which brought heavy rain, gales, thunder and lightning and injured dozens of people through falling tree branches, hurled debris and road accidents.

A small tornado caused damage in the lower Rhine region, while several camp sites were destroyed in the Rhineland-Palatinate.

A 72-year-old hunter was found dead just before midnight under a fallen tree in a forest in the Hessian region of Werra-Meißner after being reported missing by a fellow hunter, police said.

Frankfurt airport, Germany’s largest and a key European air transport hub, was closed for half and hour from around 8 pm to 8:30 pm. Approaching planes had to be diverted or put in a holding pattern, an airport spokesman said, though he had no information on how many passengers had been affected.

Three people were injured in the Hessian region of Schwalm-Eder, where the storm uprooted trees, tore off roof tiles and flooded cellars. Several roads were blocked by fallen trees. One man was hit by a tree branch, while a cyclist and a motorcyclist crashed in separate incidents because of the rain-flooded streets.

In the Rhineland-Palatinate town of Neuwied heavy rain and gales battered a campsite, where a sudden gust tore a tent, including its wooden flooring, from the ground and hurled it against a fence, leaving a 20-year-old man with serious head and spinal injuries. His condition was critical though not life-threatening. Two 17-year-olds suffered less serious injuries.

Deutsche Bahn was forced to close many train tracks. Worst affected were the areas in the far west around Mönchengladbach and Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia and the lower Rhine. Many of the lines were re-opened overnight, however.

Click here for The Local’s weather forecast.

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WEATHER

Spring to arrive in Germany with temperatures of up to 21C

The moment many people around Germany have been waiting for is almost here: as of Thursday, temperatures are expected to crack the 20C mark and stay warm through the start of spring.

Spring to arrive in Germany with temperatures of up to 21C

Whether it’s the pink cherry blossom trees which have started to bloom, lighter evenings or people walking around with ice cream cones, the signs of springs have already started to show around Germany in March.

Now the weather is also catching up: following rain storms on Wednesday, the mercury is expected to reach at least 20C in many parts of the Bundesrepublik on Thursday. 

READ ALSO: Seven signs that Spring has arrived in Germany

First there’s some damper news: On Wednesday, Germany – in particular the southwest – is expected to be hit by the storms. In the Black Forest, 30 to 40 litres per square metre will fall by midday, according to the German Weather Service (DWD).

In the Alps, light snowfall will set in above 1,000 to 1,200 metres, with fresh snowfall of around five centimetres expected. 

The rain will ease by the following morning, but it will remain cloudy.

Up to 21C on Thursday

On Thursday, after the morning the fog disappears, people can look forward to a sunny and dry day – especially in the south and western parts of Germany. 

Temperatures will rise to a pleasant 14 to 21C degrees, with the highest values on the Upper Rhine. 

In mountainous areas and by the sea, it will remain somewhat cooler at 10C to 14C. 

Friday will be characterised by changeable weather: there will be sunny spells as well as rain showers, which will spread from the west and may be heavy in places – including thunderstorms. 

Temperatures will be between 14C and 18C degrees, and in the Lausitz region in eastern Germany it could even reach a warm 20 degrees.

Warmer weeks

While this Sunday could still see some single digit temperatures in northern parts of Germany – such as 9C in Berlin and Hamburg – the coming week is set to experience continually warmer weather, remaining at 14C and higher. 

The first day of spring officially begins this year with the Spring Equinox on March 19th. The days will become even lighter in Germany after Daylight Savings Time, which this year takes place in the early hours of Easter Sunday, or March 31st.

READ ALSO: Everything that changes in Germany in March 2024

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