Storm warning: hail and 100 km/h gusts again today
Severe thunderstorms crossed Germany overnight, and the German Weather Service (DWD) warns that more are coming today and again on Friday.
The damage so far is serious. In Waldorf in Rhineland-Palatinate a woman walking outdoors was killed by a falling tree, and a second woman was badly injured. In Wetzlar in Hesse around 60 houses were damaged, some roofs were torn off completely, and debris was thrown as far as 100 metres; several houses are no longer habitable. In Kronach in Upper Franconia 3,500 people had to be cleared from the open-air area of a festival. The DWD has confirmed, after reviewing several videos, that what struck Fürstenwalde an der Spree in Brandenburg was a tornado.
It is not over. The DWD currently has level 2 warnings in force in Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg and Rhineland-Palatinate, with pre-warnings in seven more federal states. Renewed thunderstorms with heavy rain and squalls are expected across the north-western half of the country. Stronger cells along the Danube can bring larger hail and severe gusts of up to 100 km/h, and in parts of the Alps up to 40 litres per square metre may fall within a few hours.
What the authorities advise: stay indoors while a storm passes, and if you are caught outside, seek shelter in a solid building or inside a car. Do not stand under trees. A lightning strike is life-threatening. Secure loose objects on balconies, and avoid parking under trees.
Warnings change through the day. You can check the current situation for your postcode at dwd.de or in the free WarnWetter app, and warnings are also read out on local radio.