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Storms set to hit Germany over weekend

After the sunshine of the past few days, Germans are being advised to baton down the hatches, as a low pressure threatens to bring storms and heavy rain with it.

Published: 24 July 2015 16:52 CEST

Storms set to hit Germany over weekend

More summer storms are on the way. Photo: DPA

Weather experts are saying that the first storms should hit on Friday evening as the low pressure “Zeljko“ moves in from the southwest.

There is a risk of tornadoes and winds of up to 100 km/h, warns Focus.

North Rhine-Westphalia is set to be hit by the low pressure on Friday evening with around 40 liters of rain per square meter expected to fall.

The storm is expected to travel up the west of the country, meaning that Berlin and other eastern cities should be shielded from the worst of it.

By Saturday evening the low pressure should have reached the north sea.

The dangers posed by the storm should not be ruled out, despite the fact that winds will be weaker than autumn and winter blasts.

Because trees are in full bloom, less wind is needed to blow them over.

“Walking and camping in the woods should be avoided at all costs,“ Christian Herold from the German Weather Service (DWD) told Focus. Even driving under trees could be dangerous, he warned.

Zeljko will bring an end to the hot weather with temperatures averaging at 20 degrees in the north. But in Bavaria and other southern states things will stay much more summery, at around 25 degrees.

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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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