Storms Wreak Havoc in Germany: Heavy Rain, Hail, and Floods Cause Disruption

The week began with intense headwinds, only to be followed by powerful storms that brought rain and hail to various regions in Germany. The hardest-hit areas were North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Bremen. By evening, emergency services were busy dealing with flooded basements, streets, and highways.

One dramatic incident occurred when a tree uprooted by the storm disrupted the journey of 80 passengers on an express train near Hennef. The passengers had to be transferred to another train at the scene. Fortunately, there were no reports of severe injuries, but one person sustained a serious head wound after being struck by a hailstone.

An elderly care home in East Frisia had to be evacuated due to the severe weather, and preliminary data from the German Weather Service (DWD) revealed that today marked the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures soaring to 36.5°C in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate.

As night fell, the storms rolled in, and every available emergency unit was deployed. Firefighters worked to pump out flooded basements and underpasses, with the primary concern being water damage. Miraculously, there were no reports of severe injuries, but one person was taken to the hospital with a serious head wound.

The police reported multiple flooded sections on the A59 and A42 motorways near Duberg, cautioning drivers about the risk of aquaplaning. In addition, they responded to around 30 incidents, dealing with flooded basements, fallen branches, and trees obstructing roads.

The storm also caused issues in Haltern am See, where the fire brigade was kept busy with most calls involving waterlogged basements and downed trees. Although there were no threats to life, rivers remained within their banks, and streets were submerged in some areas.

In Carl's Ru and the surrounding areas of Bremen, streets were submerged, and basements were inundated, with water levels reaching as high as half a meter on roads and in underpasses. The regions around Blankenese and Brookil were particularly hard hit, with floodwaters sweeping away vehicles, causing "absolute chaos" according to a fire department spokesperson.

Overall, the storm caused significant disruption across Germany, with emergency services working tirelessly to respond to the aftermath.