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WEATHER

Torrential rain and high winds continue as storms hit Germany

Heavy rain and extreme winds have been causing chaos across the country – and the bad news is that the wet weather is set to continue.

Torrential rain and high winds continue as storms hit Germany
Hikers battle the weather in Saxony-Anhalt on Monday. Photo: DPA

The storm dubbed ‘Mortimer’ moved away from Germany in the night, but a new weather front has arrived. And it brings it with it heavy rain, thunderstorms and cooler temperatures. 

On Monday, the weather caused severe problems across the country, especially in northern regions. 

A man died near Wittenberg in Saxony-Anhalt after his car was hit by a falling tree. 

According to police, the man was on a rural road at about 8:30 am when the incident happened. The 41-year-old became trapped in his vehicle and died at the scene.

Emergency services were also deployed in other places due to the weather. In Neuruppin, Brandenburg, a woman became trapped under a fallen tree. A police spokeswoman said on Monday the victim was being treated for their injuries. 

READ ALSO: Travel chaos as autumn storm lashes Germany

The stormy weather could be seen in Rostock, Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania. Photo: DPA

On the A31 in Emsland, Lower Saxony, high winds overturned a truck. The driver suffered minor injuries in the accident. He had lost control of the vehicle at Wietmarschen-Lohne and the lorry tipped on its side. The Autobahn between the Emsbüren and Lingen junctions was completely closed in both directions.

A car was hit by a tree on a country road near Möckern in Saxony-Anhalt. The vehicle was heavily damaged but the driver remained unharmed, police reported.

There was also a huge disruption to the train network. Train services were cancelled or delayed as rail workers tried to remove fallen trees and branches from tracks. Some knock-on disruption could still take place on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, fire and rescue teams had to save a deer that had fallen into an empty swimming pool in North Rhine-Westphalia during the stormy weather.

The deer had  fallen into the swimming pool and had to be rescued by emergency services. Photo: Fire brigade Ruhr/DPA

On Tuesday, heavy showers, thunderstorms and strong gusts of wind were expected again, with the worst weather in the north and western parts of the country.

The DWD said on Twitter that the new weather front, dubbed Nils, would bring lots of rain, wind and storms to Germany, particularly in the north and west on Tuesday.

In the south sunny spells were forecast but later in the afternoon rain was expected.

As far as temperatures are concerned, Germany is divided: it's cooler in the north and warmer in the south. In Schleswig-Holstein, the maximum temperature is just 8C. But in southern regions, temperatures were set to rise to more than 20C.

The changeable weather is set to continue for the rest of the week, with a mix of showers and cooler temperatures.

There is also a risk of widespread ground frost in the southern half of the country at night.

Member comments

  1. I had just been released from active duty with the American army when the wall was built. I was ordered back to duty for an extra year. I have spent a total of four years living in Germany but I never saw the wall although it cost me a year of my life.

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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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