Altitudes above 800 metres in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony were hit particularly hard, the DWD said. The Harz mountain range, which runs through central Germany, saw winds of up to 158 kilometres per hour. Meanwhile the Feldberg, the highest mountain in the Black Forest, experienced winds of up to 126 kilometres per hour.

Police reported uprooted trees and street signals that caused traffic delays, as well as damaged roofs – but no injuries.

Heavy rain in Hamburg overnight caused widespread flooding in the northern city, according to a spokesperson for the fire department. Emergency services received 91 calls within a three-hour period to deal with the weather chaos.

Particularly precarious was the situation at a construction site near the city’s opera, where a 55-metre wide and 10-metre deep pit threatened to flood completely. The fire department feared rain water could cause a concrete wall to collapse under the strain. The structure was saved only with 30 loads of sandbags and 50 cubic metres of gravel.

High winds and rain are expected to continue on Tuesday and in the coming days, but temperatures will remain mild, the DWD said from its headquarters in Offenbach.

Scattered showers will take place across the country and move northeast as the day wears on, while temperatures will range from between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius. Gale force winds could hit high altitudes and coastal areas.

The wind will continue into Wednesday, where severe gusts are expected along the northern coast. Meanwhile comfortable temperatures, cloud cover and more rain are set to make midweek gloomy but bearable.

Click here for The Local’s weather forecast.