Meteorologists said the low-pressure storm “Kirsten” was expected to bring winds of up to 115 kilometres per hour until 9pm Wednesday night.
A high-speed ICE train near Bonn was delayed for an hour after it ran over a 3.6 metre trampoline blown onto the track by the fierce gusts.
Police said the the stormy weather caused truck trailers to flip over in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. They have subsequently closed bridges over the Rhine River in Emmerich and Rees. In Cologne, the city zoo and cemeteries have been closed.
Less than two weeks ago, low-pressure storm “Emma” ripped through the nation, killing several and destroying property. Despite what wind-weary Germans may think, the frequency of big storms is not increasing, said meteorologist Karsten Brandt from the weather service www.donnerwetter.de.
“The common perception that storms are increasing can’t be proved statistically,” he said.