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STORM

Storms threaten Carnival celebrations across west Germany

Cancellations or delays loom for Rosenmontag (Rose Monday) carnival celebrations in Cologne, Düsseldorf and Mainz.

Published: 4 March 2019 10:14 CET
Storms threaten Carnival celebrations across west Germany
A Brexit float at Düsseldorf's carnival on Monday morning. Image: DPA

A looming storm over the north and west of Germany has led to the partial cancellation of Rose Monday celebrations in a number of German cities. Events in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Mainz and other towns throughout the region have been cancelled or scaled down due to storm fears. 

Rosenmontag traditionally represents the highlight of the carnival season, with schools closed and parades planned in several cities across Germany. The day also features the Rosenmontagszügen (Rose Monday Trains), a parade of intricately designed floats with a focus on political satire. 

On Monday morning festival organizers in Bottrop near Essen cancelled the parade, while certain larger floats were banned from the celebrations in Cologne. 

Düsseldorf postponed their parade by two hours pending a ‘wind check’ before it begins. North Rhine-Westphalia authorities said the event will not go ahead should wind be measured at ‘Wind Force 8’, which is the official storm limit set by the German Weather Service (DWD). 

In Koblenz the parade was also delayed by two hours while the distance was shortened by a kilometre. Delays were also forecast in Ratingen, Aachen and Münster. 

Bottrop mayor Bernd Tischler said while he was disappointed to have cancelled the event, safety was the city council’s top priority. 

“Of course it is difficult to digest for the many committed people who put their heart and soul into the anniversary presentation and for the Rose Monday procession,” Tischler told DPA.

Storms caused havoc across the region on Sunday night, damaging construction sites and causing road closures across North Rhine-Westphalia. A number of cars and trucks were damaged when a tree fell onto an Autobahn in Kerpen at around 5am on Monday morning, although there we no injuries. 

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While Rosenmontag is known as ‘Rose Monday’ in English, the original name comes from the German dialectic word ‘roose’, which means to frolic or romp. 

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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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