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WEATHER

Savage storms caused €650m of damage

Storms in June which ripped through parts of western and central Germany caused €650 million worth of damage, according to estimates released on Wednesday.

Savage storms caused €650m of damage
Lightning strikes a field in Lower Saxony on June 10th, 2014. Photo: DPA

The storm, which killed six people when it hit North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Lower Saxony on June 9th and 10th this year, could prove to be the second most expensive in the past 15 years.

In the western city of Düsseldorf, authorities estimate the hail, high winds and rain caused €63.8 million in damages, Bild newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Last year's summer floods and storms, which caused €1.9 billion worth of damage, had topped the figure this century, Bernhard Gause of the German insurers association GDV told the Rheinische Post.   

June's storm prompted a total of 250,000 different damage claims from private homes and businesses worth a total €400 million, GDV said. A further 100,000 claims worth €250 million were registered with state-owned insurers Kfz.

PHOTO GALLERY: Storms hit western Germany

Further storms are forecast for this week. On Tuesday evening four people were injured when a fire broke out in a house in northern Germany after the roof was struck by lightning. 

Lightning hit the roof of the family home in the town of Elmshorn in Schleswig Holstein, sparking a fire that caused over €100,000 worth of damage, the fire service said on Wednesday.

The inhabitants, a family of five, were able to escape the flames. But four people, including a neighbour and two firemen, were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation and other minor injuries.

The fire service succeeded in putting out the blaze by Tuesday night, but not before tens of thousands of euros worth of damage had been done.

SEE ALSO: Storms kill six people and disrupt travel

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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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