Severe Storms Cause Chaos Across Western Germany

A severe thunderstorm front brought heavy rain and chaos to parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony in Germany overnight, leading to hundreds of emergency service call-outs. The storm caused trees to fall, basements to flood, and streets to become inundated.

Deutsche Bahn reported disruptions to train services on multiple routes in North Rhine-Westphalia. In Münster, firefighters had to remove an uprooted tree from overhead power lines, causing a temporary closure of a rail line. Long-distance train traffic was also affected, with several trains held at stations for safety reasons before resuming their journeys. Affected routes included those connecting Münster, Osnabrück, Bremen, the Netherlands, and Hanover from the Ruhr area. Regional services were suspended on other lines as well.

In Münster alone, the fire department responded to over 120 incidents within two hours, dealing with flooded basements and fallen trees. Two rowers were rescued from the Werse river. An open-air concert near the Halle Münsterland had to be canceled. A driver in Witten became stranded when his vehicle got stuck in floodwaters. The district of Warendorf reported dozens of emergency calls, while in Soest, approximately 350 emergency personnel were deployed. Several train lines in the Soest area were closed due to the storm's impact.

The German Weather Service (DWD) had issued warnings for severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and hail in parts of Lower Saxony. An official severe weather warning, Level 3 out of 4, was in effect for southwestern Lower Saxony and northern North Rhine-Westphalia.