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WEATHER

After glorious sunny holiday weekend, rain returns

Germans flocked outdoors to enjoy a foretaste of summer over the Easter holiday weekend, but the country can expect cooler weather and showers in the coming days.

Published: 26 April 2011 18:07 CEST
After glorious sunny holiday weekend, rain returns
Photo: DPA

With temperatures climbing into the mid-20s over Easter, Germans took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and flocked to beaches, beer gardens and parks across the country.

But the first part of the short workweek will see sunscreen give way to umbrellas.

A high pressure systems passing over northern Europe will mean cooler temperatures for northern Germany, while remaining areas will see showers and possible thunderstorms, according to the German Weather Service (DWD).

“Temperatures most definitely won’t reach the highs from last weekend any time soon,” said DWD meteorologist Dorothea Paetzold in a statement. “But we can expect sunny and dry outdoor weather this coming weekend.”

Click here for photos of summery Easter weather.

It remains to be seen if the rain will be enough to reduce the risk of wildfires, which some observers feared during the warm, dry weather over the Easter holidays.

Tuesday night, much of the country will see scattered showers and thunderstorms, while the northwest will stay relatively dry.

Wednesday will be mostly cloudy with strong thunderstorms possible. Western and northern regions have the best chance for sunshine, with highs between 12 and 18 degrees Celsius, while coastal and mountain regions will be cooled by moderate winds from the northeast.

Many regions will see stronger rain and fog Wednesday night, with temperatures falling between 4 and 10 degrees.

On Thursday, west and central Germany will see heavy cloud cover with thunderstorms likely. In the east, the weather will be relatively clear, with the sun bringing the temperature to 15 to 20 degrees, even reaching 23 degrees in Saxony and Brandenburg. Coastal regions will see a high of 12 degrees, cooled by winds out of the northeast.

In the west, showers will continue into Thursday night before the cloud cover dissipates Friday morning, with temperatures between 4 and 10 degrees.

On Friday, northern and central regions will be sunny, while the south and southwest will remain cloudy with showers and thunderstorms possible. High temperatures will reach 15 degrees in the northeast and 23 degrees in the west, while coastal highs will remain around 12 degrees as a result of cool easterly winds.

Friday night will be mostly clear across the country, but the air will remain cool, between 3 and 11 degrees.

The Local/adn

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BERLIN

Warning of toxic smoke after fire breaks out at Berlin factory

More than 180 firefighters wearing protective suits were on Friday tackling a major blaze at a metal technology firm in Berlin's Lichterfelde area as authorities warned of toxic smoke.

Published: 3 May 2024 16:35 CEST
Updated: 3 May 2024 18:08 CEST
Warning of toxic smoke after fire breaks out at Berlin factory

The blaze broke out in the first floor of metal technology factory ‘Diehl Metal Applications’ on the Stichkanal in Lichterfelde, south-west Berlin around 10:30 am.

On Friday afternoon, a fire brigade spokesperson said an area of over 2,000 square metres was on fire in the four-storey building.

As of 5 pm, the fire was reportedly still not under control.

According to the spokesman, the fire had spread to the roof, with parts of the building collapsing.

As the company also stores and processes chemicals in various quantities, there are concerns over harmful fumes in the smoke. 

“We can confirm that chemicals are also burning in the building,” said the fire service. “Sulphuric acid and copper cyanide were stored there. There is a risk of hydrogen cyanide forming and rising into the air with the smoke.”

Hydrogen cyanide is a highly toxic substance.

The Berlin state government said that residents “in the affected areas of the toxic fumes caused by the fire” were warned through the NINA warning app at midday.

People walk in the area near the fire in Berlin on Friday. Residents have been urged to stay inside and keep their windows closed.

People walk in the area near the fire in Berlin on Friday. Residents have been urged to stay inside and keep their windows closed. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

The Berlin fire department also said on X that people in a large area of Berlin and the outskirts, shown on the map in this tweet, should keep their windows and doors closed, turn off air conditioning and avoid smoky areas. People have also been asked to avoid the area. It includes a large part of the Grunewald forest. 

In the immediate vicinity, hazardous substances had been measured. According to a fire and rescue spokesperson, no injuries have been reported. 

A spokesman for Diehl Metall, to which the plant belongs, said on request that the chemicals mentioned were also only kept in small quantities at the plant.

According to the Diehl spokesman, the location is used for electroplating parts for the automotive industry. The Diehl Group is a large arms company; however, no armaments were produced at the Berlin plant, Nitz said.

Emergency response authorities requested the help of the in-house fire brigade from the firm Bayer, which is familiar with fighting against chemical fires, Berlin newspaper Tagesspeigel reported. 

Which areas are most affected?

Pupils and teachers from nearby schools have been sent home as a precaution, while several shops around the site have closed. 

On Friday afternoon, a warning message popped up on many mobile phones with a shrill sound, according to which there is “extreme danger”.

“After evaluating the weather conditions and the corresponding wind direction, the flue gases move from the scene of the incident in a northerly direction,” the fire department told the German Press Agency (DPA).

Flames seen at the fire in Berlin's Lichterfelde on Friday.

Flames seen at the fire in Berlin’s Lichterfelde on Friday. Shops around the area closed. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

According to the fire department spokesman, however, it was not initially clear at what distance the smoke could still be hazardous to health.

Parents of students at the Fichtenberg-Gymnasium in Steglitz received an e-mail stating that classes had been stopped and all students had been sent home. However, the local Abitur or end of school leaving exams continued with the windows closed.

Surrounding roads were closed while flames leapt into the sky, according to a DPA reporter on site.

A neighbouring supermarket was completely enveloped in white smoke. The surrounding area is a mixture of commercial area, allotments, housing estates and shopping centre. According to eyewitnesses, the smoke appeared to be heading north.

The fire department published a map on which the affected areas are marked. Parts of Spandau, Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and Reinickendorf, among others, can be seen. People should avoid the affected area and drive around it as much as possible, the fire department suggested. Even if no smoke is visible, windows and doors should remain closed and ventilation and air conditioning systems should be switched off, it said.

In the immediate vicinity of the fire, the police made announcements with a megaphone and called on people to leave the streets, go home and keep windows closed.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established. 

With reporting by DPA, Paul Krantz and Rachel Loxton.

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