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WEATHER

More stormy weather to strike eastern and southern Germany

Germany is yet to see the end of spells of stormy weather as predictions of humidity threaten further thunder and lightning.

Published: 20 June 2019 13:14 CEST
More stormy weather to strike eastern and southern Germany
Saxony has been particularly affected by storms in recent days. Photo: DPA.

There is a high chance of stormy weather in the eastern and southern Germany on Thursday. According to the German Weather Service (DWD) a number of storms threaten to hit these regions, particularly in the afternoon.

Nationwide top temperatures will hit 30 degrees C, especially along the Oder river.

Wednesday already saw a number of storms across Germany. In some areas, particularly in Lower Saxony and Hesse, up to 40 litres of rain per metre squared fell within an hour. Storm squalls of around 100km were measured throughout the hour.

Storms in Brandenburg a week ago knocked a tree into the road. Photo: DPA.

“Localized showers and thunderstorms poured down in stormy areas,” said DWD meteorologist Robert Hausen.

In some parts of Uslar, Lower Saxony, the police reported flooded streets. The pressure from the rain pushed manhole covers out of place, causing the flooding.

The nearby town of Einbeck was also affected when mud and water flooded streets making them impassable. In Hardegsen, a fallen overheard cable caused disruption as a large area of the town was closed off to the public.

According to experts, it will be muggy in the South over the weekend, which could lead to further storms.

Hot days lie ahead for the beginning of the coming weekend. In isolated cases the temperature could reach 40 degrees C, Hausen said. However it is too early for a reliable prediction.

The DWD mapped out which areas of Germany would be the most affected by storms.

 

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FLOODS

German communities brace for flooding as water levels continue to rise

Water levels on the Elbe and Oder rivers in Germany are rising, sparking preparations for floods as the clean-up across central Europe gets underway.

Published: 19 September 2024 10:12 CEST
German communities brace for flooding as water levels continue to rise

As several countries in Europe face the devastating aftermath of severe flooding following torrential rain, communities in some regions of Germany are trying to manage rising water levels. 

According to a forecast by the state flood centre, the water on the Elbe river has not yet reached expected peaks. In the city of Dresden, the Elbe rose above the six-metre mark on Wednesday. There, as well as in Schöna on the border with the Czech Republic, the flood peak is expected on Thursday.

There is a cautious all-clear along other rivers in the east and south of Germany. Further north, however, Brandenburg is looking anxiously at the Oder river, which is expected to bring more water in the coming days.

READ ALSO: Parts of Germany hit by flooding as torrential rain wreaks havoc across central Europe

Flood crisis teams are due to meet in Frankfurt (Oder), located at the border with Poland, and other municipalities in Brandenburg on Thursday. A level 1 flood alert was issued for sections of the river on Wednesday.

According to the State Office for the Environment, floodplains and meadows close to the banks are expected to start flooding, with the areas of the Oder village of Ratzdorf to Eisenhüttenstadt particularly affected.

The state office believes the highest alert level – level 4 – with a water level of around six metres will be reached in the next few days near Ratzdorf, where the Oder reaches Brandenburg territory.

Clean-up work underway in central and eastern Europe

In the flood-hit areas from Poland to the Czech Republic and Austria, the clean-up work has now begun, but the situation is only slowly easing.

In many places, the emergency services are still struggling with masses of water. Soldiers are also providing support in Poland and the Czech Republic. However, the authorities are not yet giving the all-clear. So far, more than 20 people have tragically lost their lives in the region due to the extreme weather.

In the Polish city of Wroclaw in the west of the country, the flood wave was not expected until Thursday night. As several tributaries that also carry a lot of water flow into the Oder between Olawa and Wroclaw, the possibility of flooding in the Lower Silesian metropolis cannot be ruled out, said an expert.

Flooding in Bresgau Poland

A drone captures the high water levels in Bresgau, Poland, on September 19th. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/PAP | Maciej Kulczynski

Flood defences in Wroclaw have been reinforced as a precautionary measure. One third of the city of 630,000 inhabitants was flooded during the Oder flood in 1997.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to visit Poland on Thursday afternoon. According to the EU Commission, the trip is being organised at the invitation of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, his Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer are also expected to attend the meeting.

The talks are likely to focus on the question of funds from Brussels for reconstruction although the extent of the damage is still unclear.

With reporting from DPA

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