Severe Storms Batter Germany with Giant Hail, Flooding, and Fires

Germany is anticipating further severe weather, with the German Weather Service (DWD) warning of renewed thunderstorm activity, particularly across central and southern regions. These storms could bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and hail, with accumulations of 25 to 40 liters per square meter in a short period, and potentially exceeding 40 liters in isolated cases.

Parts of northern Germany experienced extreme weather on Monday. In the Ludwigslust-Parchim district of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, hailstones the size of tennis balls fell, accumulating so much ice in some areas that front-end loaders were needed for removal. The local control center reported approximately 168 weather-related emergency calls within an hour, requiring firefighters to pump out flooded basements and clear fallen trees. While no injuries were reported, significant property damage is likely.

The severe weather also impacted Elmshorn in Schleswig-Holstein. A police patrol car became stranded in floodwaters on Wasserstraße during an operation, though no officers were injured. Separately, the roof of a family home in Elmshorn caught fire, suspected to be caused by a lightning strike. Firefighters faced challenges during their response due to the ongoing thunderstorms and lightning risk, which initially prevented the deployment of two aerial ladder platforms.

Firefighters battled the house fire from the interior due to the lightning risk. A resident was believed to be inside the home, but no one was found. The severe weather conditions, including heavy rain and lightning, significantly hampered emergency response efforts in the affected areas.