SHARE
COPY LINK

WEATHER

Germany braces for severe storm and high winds

Germany will be hit by a severe autumn storm with wind speeds over 110km per hour on Thursday, forecasters predicted.

Germany braces for severe storm and high winds
People look out onto the Baltic Sea in Heiligendamm, northern Germany, on Wednesday. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Jens Büttner

You can find our most up-to-date story here: Storms across Germany spark travel disruption

People living in Germany should expect disruption throughout the day as heavy gusts, rainfall and thunderstorms hit the country in the first major storm of autumn. 

Gale-force winds of over 100 kilometres per hour are possible at times, according to the German Weather Service (DWD).

The DWD said on Twitter that “widespread gale-force to severe gusts (75-90km per hour) and locally gale-force gusts up to 110km per hour” are expected along with heavy showers and thunderstorms. Severe-gale force to hurricane-like winds are possible in some mountain ranges.

Late on Wednesday and in the early hours of Thursday, a low pressure system will move into Germany from the west bringing the storm, DWD said. Meteorologist Tobias Reinartz said that disruption to travel should be expected due to fallen trees and debris. 

Deutsche Bahn warned there may be cancellations and disruption on their rail network due to the weather. Passengers should check before trying to travel. 

The DWD issued an orange storm weather warning (level 2) for most of the country on Wednesday night and Thursday. For some areas a more severe red warning (level 3) is in place. 

On exposed peaks such as the Brocken, the Feldberg in the Black Forest or the Fichtelberg, winds of up to 120km/h are possible, reported Tagesschau. DWD meteorologist Julia Schmidt said that gale-force winds cannot be ruled out on the coasts either.

According to forecasters, the wind will be weaker in the southeast, with gusts of 55 to 75km/h. There may still be showers and thunderstorms there.

Over the course of Thursday afternoon, the wind will decrease from the west, according to the DWD. But it will likely remain stormy in the north into Friday.

On Friday, rain will fall in the northern half of the country and at the edge of the Alps – otherwise there will be mostly sunny spells elsewhere.

On Thursday temperatures will range between 13 and 18C, on Friday mostly between 8 and 13C. Saturday will be similar. A mix of sun, clouds and fog is to be expected, the DWD said. Sunday will bring sun and 12 to 17C. From Tuesday at the latest, more unsettled weather will move in again.

Berlin zoo and parks to remain closed

Due to the storm warnings, the zoo and animal park in Berlin will remain closed on Thursday.

“We know from experience that such storm warnings should by no means be taken lightly,” Zoo and Tierpark director Andreas Knieriem said on Wednesday. The move is to protect guests and animals from falling branches.

The aquarium is scheduled to open as usual. Guests with tickets for Thursday are asked by zoo management to contact them for rebooking.

Several green spaces in the city will also remain closed due to the storm warnings, the state-owned Grün Berlin group said. The Gardens of the World, the Britzer Garten, the Schöneberger Südgelände Nature Park and the Blankenfelde-Pankow Botanical People’s Park will remain closed on Thursday due to the predicted gale-force winds.

The cable car between Kienbergpark and the Gardens of the World in Marzahn will also be suspended. However, Tempelhofer Feld, Park am Gleisdreieck, the Mauerpark extension areas and Kienbergpark will remain accessible, according to Grün Berlin.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

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

SHOW COMMENTS