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WEATHER

Wet, windy, stormy Christmas in store

Those hoping for a traditional white Christmas in Germany are going to be disappointed, with weathermen saying Tuesday the current wet, windy and stormy weather is set to stay.

Published: 23 December 2014 10:31 CET
Wet, windy, stormy Christmas in store
Nobody's dreaming of a wet Christmas Photo: DPA

As recently as last week there was at least one-in-five chance of snow in mountainous parts of the country such as Thuringia and the Bavarian Alps.

But on Tuesday the German Weather Service said the currently unseasonably mild temperatures of between 9 and 12 degrees across the country will stay put through Christmas.

The low-pressure weather from the south-west that has engulfed the country in drizzle and rain for the past two weeks is still hanging over Germany, making for a grey and wet Yuletide.

Christmas Eve will see rain or drizzle across the north of Germany, whilst south of the Danube river may see a little sun, with temperatures at 7-12 degrees.

However, along the northern coastline strong winds may even reach gale force, with storms likely.

Thursday, Christmas Day, may see a little sleet or even snow in the Alps – but that is as close as Germany is likely to get to a white Christmas. And even that is more likely to turn into rain.

The one ray of sunshine is that there may actually be a ray of sunshine on December 25th, with temperatures around 4-6 degrees and the sun making an occasional appearance in amongst the rain and high winds.

SEE ALSO: Little chance of White Christmas in Germany

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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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