Germany Braces for Severe Thunderstorms After Unwetter Causes Damage

Germany is bracing for severe thunderstorms, especially in the southern regions, as the German Weather Service (DWD) forecasts heavy downpours, hail, and strong gusts. The DWD anticipates rainfall rates of up to 30 liters per square meter within an hour, hailstone sizes of three centimeters, and wind speeds reaching 100 kilometers per hour in the south.

Less intense thunderstorms are predicted for other parts of the country, with rainfall around 15 liters per square meter per hour, wind speeds near 70 kilometers per hour, and smaller hailstones. These forecasts follow significant weather damage in Baden-Württemberg on Wednesday, where heavy storms caused numerous emergency responses.

The Bodensee region and the area around Reutlingen were particularly affected. In Kressbronn, a tree fell onto a motorhome at a campsite. Stark rain and a hailstorm with hailstones up to five centimeters in size led to flooded basements, inundated streets, and a temporary power outage for approximately 6,000 households in Reutlingen.

Further incidents included hail accumulating centimeters high on roads in Schemmerhofen and a car flipping multiple times on the A81 near Singen due to sudden heavy rain, though the driver remained unharmed. In Aitrach, a 43-year-old woman suffered minor electric shock when lightning struck while she held her charging mobile phone. A lightning strike also ignited the roof structure of an unoccupied house in Lichtenstein.

Despite the storm warnings, high temperatures persist, with forecasts of over 30 degrees Celsius in southwestern areas. Meteorologist Fabian Chow noted that Thursday would be the last day of intense heat, particularly around the Upper Rhine Graben. A shift in air masses on Friday will end the heatwave, but it will be accompanied by widespread and potentially severe thunderstorm activity due to the charged atmosphere. The weekend is expected to bring significantly cooler temperatures, generally below 25 degrees Celsius, with potentially stormy conditions along the coast.

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Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, hail, and strong winds are expected across Germany, particularly in the south.