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WEATHER

Scholz visits flood-hit northern Germany

Chancellor Olaf Scholz travelled Sunday to parts of northern Germany hit by floods after days of heavy rains, urging the nation "to close ranks" in the face of the challenges posed by nature.

Published: 31 December 2023 12:55 CET
Updated: 31 December 2023 15:32 CET
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (C-L) and Lower Saxony's State Premier Stephan Weil (C) look at the flood waters and damage in Verden, western Germany
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (C-L) and Lower Saxony's State Premier Stephan Weil (C) look at the flood waters and damage in Verden, western Germany, on December 31, 2023, during a visit to the flood stricken areas of Lower Saxony. (Photo by Hornung / AFP)

The German leader arrived by helicopter at Verden an der Aller in Lower Saxony, one of the worst-hit states, where he was briefed about the emergency situation as well as protective measures that had been undertaken.

Accompanied by the region’s state premier Stephan Weil, Scholz met affected inhabitants as well as members of the emergency services.

READ ALSO: What parts of Germany are hardest hit by flooding?

“The weather and nature are posing challenges,” said Scholz, adding that it was “therefore important for us to close ranks”.

Scholz thanked emergency workers for their deployment through the festive holiday season.

Days of rain, as well as melting snow, had left parts of several regions — including the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia as well as the eastern states of Saxony and Thuringia – under water.

Swings on a children's playground are flooded as the Rhein river overflows its banks in Ruedesheim am Rhein, western Germany, on December 29, 2023.

Swings on a children’s playground are flooded as the Rhein river overflows its banks in Ruedesheim am Rhein, western Germany, on December 29, 2023. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP)

No fatality has been reported in the latest bout of floods, but new rains are expected in the next few days, provoking fears that dikes could be breached.

Thousands of emergency workers have been mobilised to reinforce dikes by piling sandbags along riverbanks.

READ ALSO: IN PICTURES: Torrential rain and flooding as Storm Zoltan ravages Germany

Germany was traumatised by deadly flooding in July 2021, which claimed more than 180 lives as heavy waters ripped through towns and villages, destroying bridges, roads, railways and swathes of housing.

Forecasters had issued warnings, yet many residents were simply unaware of the risks of such violent flooding, with dozens found dead in their cellars.

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WEATHER

Severe weather warnings issued as Germany braces for more storms

Extreme weather warnings for heavy rainfall remain in place in parts of Germany on Friday following flooding in the south. There is also a chance of thunderstorms at the weekend.

Published: 17 May 2024 10:37 CEST
Severe weather warnings issued as Germany braces for more storms

Severe weather is expected in the southwest of the country on Friday, with the heaviest rain expected in Saarbrücken, as well as the surrounding areas of Saarland and southern Rhineland-Palatinate.

In these areas Germany’s weather service (DWD) has level 4 warnings in place – meaning that the rain is expected to be extremely heavy (more than 40 litres per square metre in an hour, or 60 litres per square metre in 6 hours).

Slightly less severe, but still heavy continuous rain can also be expected in the surrounding regions, extending as far as Stuttgart and Mainz.

Speaking to Bild newspaper, Climatologist Dr. Karsten Brandt suggested that the heavy precipitation and thunderstorms will continue to move northwest, even into southern North-Rhine Westphalia (Aachen).

There are also wind warnings in parts of the country, with squalls expected on the Brocken and the Fichtelberg mountains, as well as in the Black Forest and in the Alps.

Currently, the highest wind warnings are in Dresden and southern Bavaria near the Alps.

Friday’s weather warnings come in the wake of chaotic weather that flooded Nuremberg and parts of Bavaria Thursday night, where many roads flooded. Cars were submerged in water and bus routes were cancelled.

A number of household cellars also flooded as well as a large underground car park at the Technical University.

READ ALSO: Record heat deaths and floods – How Germany is being hit by climate change

What will the weekend bring?

Beyond the area of severe weather warnings but not beyond the reach of the storm, Cologne will have some rain on Friday which may continue on through the weekend.

Germany’s northern and eastern regions have dodged the recent bout of storms so far, but in Berlin scattered thunderstorms can be expected to move in by Sunday afternoon. This may put a dampener on the Karneval der Kulturen parade. 

In Bremen and Hamburg, residents can expect some rain showers on Sunday and Monday, with a chance of thunderstorms as well.

In Munich and Nuremberg, it looks as if the worst is over. Some small showers may continue into Saturday, but Bavarian residents can look forward to a sunny Sunday ahead of the public holiday on Monday for Pentecost. 

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