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STORM

Tornado rips off roofs as storm batters west Germany

Five houses had to be evacuated in Minden, North Rhine-Westphalia, after a tornado swept through the town on Sunday.

Published: 23 May 2016 10:21 CEST
Tornado rips off roofs as storm batters west Germany
A property damages by a tornado in Minden on Sunday evening. Photo: DPA

Thirty-three people had to leave their homes in the town, after the storm ripped off roofs and toppled trees dangerously near to houses.

Police described the storm as a tornado, but a German Weather Service (DWD) spokeswoman said that “we are now investigating but can't yet say for certain” whether it was a true twister.

Several towns in the area were affected by the storm which brought torrential rain and hail in its path.

A property damaged by a tornado in Minden on Sunday evening. Photo: DPA

Roughly 70 kilometres south of Minden, the storm destroyed a wind turbine, tearing off two blades. The debris was blown up to 250 metres away.

Several roads in the area were also closed after several trees were blown across them. It was opened shortly after, as locals pitched in with chainsaws to cut through the fallen trunks.

Firefighters in Minden said that they were called out 86 times, while the police responded to 61 emergencies.

Only one person was injured in the hazardous weather. A disabled person in Port Westfalica was badly hurt after falling over a manhole cover which had been washed out by the rain.

 

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WEATHER

Winter weather returns to Germany after spring heat spell

Temperatures in Germany almost hit 30C in the last few weeks. But winter-like weather is well and truly back - and ski slopes are even re-opening in some areas.

Published: 19 April 2024 12:42 CEST
Winter weather returns to Germany after spring heat spell

Many people in Germany will have already packed away their winter clothes as spring has seen high temperatures and lots of sun.

But a cosy hoody and jacket will be needed again.

According to the German Weather Service (DWD), a blast of polar air has been moving in bringing ice, rain and sleet that is turning to snow, particularly at higher altitudes. 

Those who want to take advantage of the winter weather can even get back on the slopes. Many ski resorts had to close early for the season – but a few are reopening. 

On Friday, the ski lift at Kandel in the Emmendingen district (Baden-Württemberg) opens for floodlit skiing from 6pm. to 10pm. If the snow remains, the lifts will also operate at the weekend from 9am to 5pm.

Meanwhile, the lift at Seebuck (Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district) is operating on Saturday from 1pm to 5pm.

‘Aprilschmuddelwetter’

Lower-lying spots have also seen hailstones and snow showers. People in Munich dealt with a flurry of snow on Thursday as temperatures fell. High temperatures ranged from 4C in Oberallgäu to 12C in Lower Franconia.

In a post on X, the DWD described it as Aprilschmuddelwetter – Schmuddelwetter translates to “mucky” or “foul weather” and is often used in Germany in spring when there’s lots of rain.

The DWD said: “April foul weather on Friday: Widespread rain, snow in high mountain areas. In the afternoon, partly heavy sleet showers from the north-west, isolated thunderstorms. In addition, stormy winds in places. Temperatures will barely reach double figures.”

The DWD shared a photo with tulips poking out from the snow in Neuhaus am Rennweg in Thuringia and said it was symbolic of the current weather situation.

The low pressure system moving in from the North Sea was bringing more widespread rain, thunderstorms and hail on Friday. 

In Berlin temperatures hovered around 7C on Friday during the day with continuous rain. It was around 5C in Erfurt and 8C in Kiel. 

In western Germany, it was slightly less cool with temperatures reaching 10C – but torrential rain was forecast. 

Changeable weather with showers was forecast on Saturday, while some sunshine in the north and east of Germany was expected on Sunday. 

At night, there is a risk of frost, ice and freezing rain in the coming days in spots where the temperature drops.

This comes after a series of storms and strong winds lashed the country earlier this week.

READ ALSO: Storms and high winds hit Germany

Just a few days before that, Germany was bathed in sunshine as temperatures climbed up to nearly 30C.

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