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WEATHER

Stormy weather in Germany moves eastwards

While western Germany has been struck by storms and lightning in the past days, the eastern part has remained hot and dry. That changed Thursday afternoon.

Published: 6 June 2019 16:41 CEST
Stormy weather in Germany moves eastwards
A man and women brave Berlin's sudden rainstorm on Thursday afternoon. Photo: DPA

On Thursday, warm and cold weather fronts that divided Germany met midday, leading to intense thunder and lightning spreading to the eastern parts of the country, according to forecaster Dominik Jung from the portal Wetter.net.

Eastern regions such as Berlin and Brandenburg which had remained dry in the last few days, were suddenly struck by stormy weather, followed by cool air which is expected to remain throughout the evening. 

SEE ALSO: Brandenburg dubbed 'hotspot of Europe' as stormy weather continues

An east-west weather divide

Starting on Wednesday evening, the area west of the Rhine was hit by turbulent thunderstorms, cooling down the air. A total of 177,000 lightning strikes were recorded, reported the German Weather Service (DWD), and a tornado wrecked havoc on one small town.

SEE ALSO: Video: Tornado rips through western German town

But the eastern part of the country remained warm, with temperatures upwards of 34 degrees in Berlin, Brandenburg, and Saxony – the highest recorded temperatures in early June in a decade.

By Thursday there remained a large difference in the Mercury between east and west. In Berlin-Tegel, for example, the temperature on Thursday at 10 a.m. was already 26 degrees. In contrast, in western Cologne it was 13 degrees at that time.

But on Thursday evening it's possible that the weather turbulence seen in the west is moving eastward.

“Today we have to reckon with thunderstorms in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony. Hail and thunderstorms are possible, even tornado formation,” said Dominik Jung from the portal Wetter.net.

The following map shows in red the eastern parts of Germany particularly hard hit by stormy weather on Thursday afternoon.

Weekend forecast

Yet soon all regions of the Bundesrepublik will enjoy mild to sunny temperatures. On Friday, the German Weather Service (DWD) predicts a mix of sun and clouds throughout the country, with maximum temperatures ranging between 23 and 28 degrees.

In the northern part of Germany, temperatures are expected to stay particularly cool, with the mercury not exceeding 18 to 23 degrees. In the west, shower-like rain is expected in some areas, but only sunny skies are predicted for eastern regions.

On Saturday the temperatures are expected to heat up western part of the country, said DWD, but thunderstorms are expected to follow, bringing heavy gusts of rain, and hail.

Yet on Whit Sunday most of the country can expect sun and clouds. With maximum values between 20 degrees in the Eifel in far-western Germany and 28 degrees in the Lausitz in Brandenburg, it will be warmer throughout the country again.

Only on the North Sea will temperatures remain at 17 to 20 degrees with lots of wind.

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WEATHER

More rain forecast as storms hit western Germany

Severe storms and heavy rain affected parts of Germany on Thursday, creating disruptions. More rain is forecast on Friday but weather warnings have been lifted.

Published: 3 May 2024 09:53 CEST
More rain forecast as storms hit western Germany

Major storms hit western Germany on Thursday, causing travel disruption and flooding. 

In parts of Baden-Württemberg, streets were flooded and rivers swelled. Bisingen, southwest of Tübingen, was particularly hard hit, with cellars and streets plunged under water.

Police said there was also traffic disruption. In Baden-Württemberg’s state capital Stuttgart, severe storms and lightning caused issues and some roads were closed.

A lightning strike in the Sigmaringen area resulted in a broken signal box on the railway line. According to Deutsche Bahn, no train journeys were possible in the region in the early evening with several delays and cancellations.

Other states were also affected.

There were around 300 relief operations in the Ahrweiler district in Rhineland-Palatinate, which was hit by the 2021 deadly flood disaster.

Police said no-on was injured, although basements and streets were flooded. The water levels of the Ahr were being closely monitored.

Emergency services in Bisingen on Thursday.

Emergency services in Bisingen on Thursday. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Silas Stein

In Trier, too, streets were flooded after heavy rain and there were hailstorms. The Koblenz police headquarters reported fallen trees. Significant property damage due to full cellars and flooded streets was also reported in some areas. 

Heavy showers also fell in Hesse, accompanied by thunder storms. In Frankfurt, according to the fire department, the heavy rain caused water to enter the Bethanien Hospital and even reach the intensive care unit of the clinic.

“We were able to contain the damage relatively quickly and prevent it from spreading,” said fire department spokesman Thorben Schemmel, adding that no patients were affected.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Eifel region was particularly affected, with reports of flooded streets after heavy rain and hailstorms.

North Rhine-Westphalia also saw storms late in the afternoon on Thursday. 

The German Weather Service (DWD) said it expected some heavy rain and hail in parts of the country on Friday – particularly in the west – and at the weekend but warnings of severe weather have been lifted. 

The DWD said there could still be one or two strong thunderstorms in the northeast on Friday. However, it will be a significantly quieter day compared to Thursday. Temperatures of up to 25C can be expected.

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