Berlin in a state of emergency – heavy rain and storms cause chaos

State of emergency: heavy rain and storms partially paralyze Berlin

11:02 p.m.: A short but violent storm with heavy rain and gusty winds in Berlin on Monday evening caused trees in particular to snap and slowed down the S-Bahn traffic. Many traffic lights failed on the streets, according to the traffic information center. So far, 358 emergency calls have been received, the fire department said at around 10:15 p.m. It is expected that the weather-related operations will continue throughout the night. All of the capital’s volunteer fire brigades were called into service.

9.45 p.m.: After a short but violent storm with heavy rain and gusty winds in Berlin, the fire brigade is in the “state of emergency weather”. She announced this via Twitter on Monday evening. There are several disruptions to the S-Bahn. At around 8:00 p.m., her Twitter account said: “Due to weather-related influences in the entire S-Bahn network, there are delays and cancellations on all lines.” Train traffic was interrupted on various routes.

The fire brigade announced that the operation was being dealt with according to priorities. Several volunteer fire brigades were called into service. There were no further details about the missions. In some places, the strong wind snapped off thick branches and streets were under water. A thunderstorm had passed through the city and left its mark in many parts of the city.

DWD warns of strong thunderstorms in the north

Monday, July 24, 2023 at 7:13 p.m.: The German Weather Service (DWD) has warned of severe thunderstorms with heavy precipitation in the area from Hamburg to the Bay of Lübeck. The thunderstorms were moving from Lower Saxony towards the Baltic Sea early Monday evening, as a meteorologist from the DWD said on Monday. The official warning was initially valid until 6.30 p.m., but could be extended according to the information.

A resident reported in northern Hamburg on Monday evening about garden furniture flying around and hail. According to the DWD, gusts of wind with speeds of around 85 kilometers per hour and heavy rain with precipitation between 15 and 25 liters per square meter and hour were expected.

Lots of clouds, showers and thunderstorms at the start of the week

Sunday, July 23, 2023 at 12:09 p.m.: The new week begins across Germany with lots of clouds and showers, which can also bring thunder and lightning. The daily highs on Monday in the north and west are between 19 and 25 degrees, while it gets a little warmer in the south and east at 25 to 29 degrees, as the German Weather Service (DWD) in Offenbach announced on Sunday. During the night, the rainfall with thunderstorms does not let up, especially south of the Danube and on the edge of the Alps. In the second half of the night, according to the weather report, new rainfall and thunderstorms are to be expected from the south-west. It cools down to 17 to 10 degrees.

Also on Tuesday the weather will remain unstable during the day and at night. Especially in the southern half, there can be thunderstorms for several hours during the day. Temperatures never rise above 24 degrees anywhere.

Weather conditions in Germany on Saturday

Saturday, July 22, 2023: Throughout Germany, the weather is mixed today. Isolated showers are expected on the coasts of the North and Baltic Seas. In the northwest it will become increasingly cloudy and rainy at times as the day progresses, while temperatures will only reach 18 to 21 degrees. In other regions the sky is partly clear, partly cloudy, with only isolated weak showers.

In the southwest there is even the possibility of longer sunny periods. Occasional thunderstorms can occur in the Alps. The temperature rises to 22-27 degrees. The wind blows lightly to moderately from south-west to west directions, on the coasts and in the west it can occasionally get slightly gusty.

A weekend full of clouds

Friday, July 21, 2023 at 6:54 p.m.: In Germany, summer is taking a break in many places, but there can be no question of that in Greece: temperatures of up to 44 degrees are expected there. The German Weather Service (DWD) expects plenty of clouds and one or two showers and thunderstorms for the coming weekend. Hardly anyone is likely to sweat, because on Saturday the maximum values ​​​​are below 20 degrees, especially on the North Sea and the surrounding area – low values ​​of up to eight degrees are possible there at night. In the southwest of Germany, on the other hand, the sun is likely to shine for a long time, it will remain dry. With highs between 22 and 27 degrees, it is pleasantly summery.

On Sunday it will be very warm in the south and south-east – with up to 30 degrees in south-east Bavaria. It will remain mostly dry. Otherwise, numerous clouds can be seen, rain is to be expected again and again. In the northwest half, the temperatures are significantly cooler than in the south, with a maximum of 18 to 24 degrees.

At the start of the new week, the meteorologists expect changeable weather. There will be showers and thunderstorms at times and in places. According to the DWD, the thunderstorms can also be strong in the south and south-east. In the following days until the middle of the week it should cool down further.

There can be no question of that in heat-stricken Greece. “The 40 degree mark should continue to be cracked several times,” said DWD meteorologist Marcel Schmied, looking ahead to the next few days. The highest temperatures of 44 degrees are predicted for the area around Athens. There is also no all-clear for Italy and especially the north of Croatia, where heavy thunderstorms are again forecast for Saturday.

Rain and clouds for the weekend in NRW – too Thunderstorm possible

Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 9:14 p.m.: The people of North Rhine-Westphalia have to be prepared for a rainy weekend. For Thursday, the German Weather Service (DWD) expects isolated showers and a mix of sun and clouds. The temperatures are therefore between 18 degrees at high altitudes and 25 degrees on the Rhine. According to the DWD, rain and thunderstorms are possible on Friday night.

According to the weather service, the weekend starts with light rain, thunderstorms and maximum temperatures of 21 to 24 degrees and around 18 degrees in the mountains. The showers are expected to drop again on Saturday night. On Saturday there could be some rain during the day, especially in the north of the country. The temperatures are expected to rise to 22 to 25 degrees on Saturday, according to the DWD.

It could rain again on Sunday night. During the day it should mostly remain cloudy and in the evening thunderstorms are to be expected again, the DWD further announced.Thunderstorms in the Alps and in the north

Wednesday, July 19, 3:14 p.m.: With a small difference in air pressure, moderately warm Atlantic air masses have an influence on the weather in the north. To the south, warmer and sometimes humid air currents determine what is happening.

Isolated thunderstorms are expected today in the north and from the western and central low mountain ranges down to the Alps. Locally, there is a risk of heavy rain of around 15 liters per square meter within a short period of time, accompanied by stiff to stormy gusts at speeds of 50 to 70 km/h (force 7-8 Bft) and small-grain hail. In the very south, isolated storms with heavy rain, heavy gusts of wind and possibly larger hail cannot be completely ruled out.

Thunderstorm activity will gradually subside on Thursday night.

There is only a very small chance of thunderstorms on Thursday.

Temperatures moderate again in the second half of the week

Tuesday, July 18, 12:18 p.m.: Cooler sea air in the north, muggy warm weather in the south: In the coming days, the meteorologists of the German Weather Service (DWD) expect a mixed weather situation. Heavy clouds are possible in the north on Wednesday, and shower-like precipitation at temperatures between 19 and 25 degrees can occur, as in the north-west. Otherwise, the maximum values ​​​​are between 24 and 30 degrees and from the southwest to the middle of Germany longer sunny periods are to be expected, according to the meteorologists on Tuesday.

On Thursday it will be a little fresher in the north with 18 to 22 degrees, otherwise 21 to 25 degrees. Only in the southwest can the thermometer climb to 28 degrees. Similar temperatures are expected for Friday. With changing to heavy cloud cover, precipitation and isolated thunderstorms can occur in some areas, especially in the north, as well as in the Alps.

Significant temperature differences on Monday in Germany

5:10 p.m.: Cool north and thundery, warm south: the temperatures in Germany will diverge significantly in the coming days. In the north, showers and short thunderstorms are announced at the start of the week with a maximum of 24 degrees, as the German Weather Service in Offenbach announced on Sunday. Temperatures on the North Sea even stayed below 20 degrees.

The situation in the south and southwest is completely different, according to the DWD, warm, humid to hot air continues to dominate here at a maximum of 31 degrees. On Monday and Tuesday, downpours and heavy thunderstorms are possible during the day from the Alps to the Danube and to the Black Forest. Even individual storms with heavy rain are not excluded here.

“The center of the country, on the other hand, is between the chairs,” said DWD meteorologist Sebastian Altnau. Friendly summer weather is expected here at the start of the week with 24 to 28 degrees. According to Altnau, the temperature gradient from only around 20 degrees on the coasts to around 30 degrees in the south and south-west should hardly change in the middle of the week. Very high temperatures such as the more than 38 degrees measured on Saturday in Möhrendorf-Kleinseebach in Franconia are initially no longer expected.

Weather Service: Storm not as bad as feared

Sunday, July 16, 9:10 a.m.: The feared severe weather situation turned out to be much weaker than expected on Sunday night. It was thundering and raining in many places, but there were hardly any severe storms, said a spokesman for the German Weather Service (DWD) on Sunday morning. Only in the southern Black Forest was there a storm cell late on Saturday evening between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., in Schleswig-Holstein it rained very heavily for a short time.

Nevertheless, Sunday morning felt much fresher in many places than the past few days. “With the cold front comes an air mass change,” explained the DWD expert. This is now very pleasant to air through. Only in the extreme south-east of Germany was there a risk of severe weather on Sunday. Otherwise, the risk of storms is relatively low.

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