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WEATHER

Thunderstorms and snow forecast for Germany as cold front moves in

With temperatures in the mid-teens across Germany in recent days, it may have seemed like spring had already sprung.

Thunderstorms and snow forecast for Germany as cold front moves in
A car drives through a storm in NRW. Image: DPA

But ‘Louie’, a low pressure system moving in from Scandinavia, is set to bring rain and cold weather back to much of the country – particularly early in the week. 

The German Weather Service (DWD) has predicted that a cold front moving in from the Baltic states and Belarus will reach Germany on Monday, bringing with it rain and possible snow. 

Temperatures in much of Germany are unlikely to go above six to nine degrees during the day, with the weather slightly warmer in southwest Germany. 

“In addition to rain, isolated short sleet storms are expected. Temporary snowfall may also be seen across the lowlands,” Sebastian Schappert from the DWD said. 

“On Tuesday evening, the wind is set to drop quickly, with showers and thunderstorms expected.

“In the Erzgebirge and the Alps snow will fall (from Monday on), with 10 to 20cm of snow expected.”

It’s not all doom and gloom for the week, however. From Wednesday on, the weather is expected to improve as a dry weather pattern moves in from the British Isles. 

While the evenings are still likely to be cold, the DWD predicts temperatures of up to 18 degrees later in the week and on the weekend as well as sunny, dry conditions. 

The forecast continues what has been an unpredictable few months weather-wise in Germany. After one of the most mild winters in recent memory, spring-like conditions in February and March have been punctuated by thunderstorms and torrential rain

As The Local reported in the middle of March, a small town near Aachen in the country's west was hit by a tornado.

A house after being hit by a tornado in the town of Roetgen. Image: DPA

Around 40 homes were damaged by the storm which was described by the local fire brigade as 'short and violent. 

SEE ALSO: 'Short and violent' tornado strikes town near Aachen 

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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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