A lot of water from above: Given the constant rain, the risk of flooding is increasing in several areas of Germany. There are warnings for Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Saxony, among others.
Heavy rain is causing river levels to rise in many areas of Germany. Some areas have already been flooded. Flood warnings are in effect. Rivers have already overflowed their banks, and this is expected in other places due to persistent rain.
In Lower Saxony, floods have now been measured at most gauge points. In Rodenberg in the Schaumburg an der Aue district, residents were asked to clear valuables from their cellars, have buckets and pumps ready and go to the first floor of their houses. According to the mayor, the water is now flowing over the weir. The residents had already been warned with sirens during the night.
Crisis teams set up
Elsewhere is that Situation also tense. The levels on the line continue to rise. According to the forecast by the Lower Saxony State Office for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Conservation, it is not possible to predict when the peak will be reached. The levels also continue to rise in Fulda, Werra and Weser. Flooding is also expected in northwest Lower Saxony.
In the south of the state, some communities have set up crisis teams to be prepared. On the rivers Weser, Leine, Fuhse, Aller, Schunter and Oker, the water levels have reached the second highest reporting level 3. In some regions, drainage ditches have already had to be pumped out because they were too full, some rivers have been diverted or mobile dikes have been set up to protect buildings.
NRW: Weser reaches warning threshold 3
In North Rhine-Westphalia, the Weser was the first river to reach warning threshold 3. Also several others Rivers are in flood, but so far the levels have not risen significantly. But that could change as more rain is expected. In Oberhausen, for example, a weakened dike on the Ruhr was causing concern, as the fire department announced. The constant rain also caused problems for the railway: in Herdecke, tracks on the route between Dortmund and Hagen were washed out.
Tense situation in eastern Germany
In Saxony-Anhalt the flood forecast center issued warnings for Mulde, Aller and Havel. Alert levels 1 and 2 were exceeded at several measuring points in the country, and alert level 3 was even exceeded in Wolmirstedt in the Börde district and in Tylsen in the Altmark district of Salzwedel.
Also The flood situation worsened in parts of Saxony. The value for alert level 3 was reached at several gauges in the morning – for example in Chemnitz. However, there was also a glimmer of hope. According to the State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology, the rain area over Saxony has weakened significantly. That’s why the Mulde, on which Zwickau is located, will probably not reach alert level 4 as feared.
In Thuringia, especially in the north, cellars and streets have already been flooded. The fire brigade is in constant use. The highest flood warning level applied in three locations. However, the Thuringian State Office for the Environment expects the situation to calm down, with the exception of the Werra area.
Bavaria is counting on it Floods
In Bavaria, the situation is also getting worse due to the ongoing rainfall. According to the flood intelligence service, the levels north of the Danube have already risen sharply. There are already floods in Upper Franconia and Upper Palatinate. Lower Bavaria, Lower and Middle Franconia and Swabia can also be affected. It is expected that the Water levels will continue to rise over the Christmas period and built-up areas can also be flooded.
Rhine shipping partially suspended
The water levels of rivers and streams are also rising in Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg. The Shipping on the Rhine was partially stopped. For days now, shippers have been subject to requirements such as slowing down or sailing in the middle of the river. The water police said this SWR, the Maxau water level is above the critical mark of 7.50 meters. That’s why there are currently no ships sailing between Iffezheim and Germersheim.
The Neckar, Kocher, Main and Jagst are currently affected by flooding. The flood forecast center assumes that the Main near Wertheim will continue to rise. It is unclear when the peak will be reached.
Severe weather warnings because of constant rain
The German Weather Service issued a warning for Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Bavaria and Saxony due to the continuous rain. “The persistent rain will continue in some cases until Monday, Christmas Day,” it said. “Until then, a total of 40 to 80 liters per square meter will fall in the low mountain ranges, sometimes even reaching into the foothills, in 2 to 4 days.” In storage situations even 80 to 120 liters are possible. This particularly affects the western low mountain ranges, but also the Upper Harz, Fichtelgebirge and the Bavarian Forest.