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WEATHER

Why this house in western Germany is sinking in the snow

The cold spell is still gripping Germany, with snow and plunging temperatures well below zero. So it’s no surprise that some towns have been blanketed in snow, creating memorable wintry weather scenes.

Why this house in western Germany is sinking in the snow
The 'Atlantis' artwork. Photo: DPA

However, we bet you’d still be shocked by these pictures from Bedburg-Hau near Kleve in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Yes, your eyes do not deceive you: this house is disappearing fast; it appears to have become almost completely buried in snowfall.

Yet on closer inspection, although this pretty brick building looks like it's been seriously affected by the frosty weather, this is no ordinary home: it's actually an art installation.

It's a piece by the Finnish artist Tea Mäkipää, which is on display at the Museum Schloss Moyland.

On Wednesday museum staff posted on Facebook that the snow had reached them.

The 44-year-old artist has created large installations across Europe. At the Moyland museum, Mäkipää produced a structure to look like it had sunk into the moat of the castle it is located beside.

The piece, named 'Atlantis', lies diagonally in the water, looking like it will sink at any moment, in front of a picturesque backdrop.

The artwork was created as part of a 2017 exhibition featured in the museum called Early Harvest, which focused on the theme of climate change and global warming.

Here's what Atlantis usually looks like. File photo: DPA

While the exhibition has long since finished, Atlantis remains in Bedburg-Hau. And since the moat around the castle is frozen and snow-covered thanks to the frosty temperatures, it looks as if the house may completely sink into the snow.

The museum staff also posted a picture of the exhibit in the evening when there were lights on, and joked that they think someone lives in it.

Cold snap continues

Meanwhile, the wintry weather is continuing across Germany. Although temperatures will increase in some parts, snow and ice are expected to stay.

Forecasters at the German Weather Service (DWD) said there could be more snow in North Rhine-Westphalia, reported RP Online.

However, as the temperature increases slightly, cold rain will fall creating black ice underfoot and on roads.

Drivers and pedestrians have been urged to take care.

There was also snow forecast in parts of Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony and the south of Germany. An orange level 2 weather warning was in place for much of the country, including western parts, on Friday due to danger of ice. The highest level is 4.

A yellow level one warning was in place for snow in the east and south.

Sheep covered in snow in Bedburg-Hau, North Rhine-Westphalia on Friday. Photo: DPA


Snow fell in Berlin on Friday. Photo: DPA

 

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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.

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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