And is that really supposed to be the Isar? The river that flows through the Bavarian capital is almost unrecognizable. The people of Munich are used to a deep blue body of water that rushes through the city quickly and gracefully. Like a mountain stream, you could say. But in the past few days, there wasn’t much left of it. The Isar, a torrential mud-brown river.
The Braunauer railway bridge in the rain: Here you can still walk along the Isar. At the risk of getting soaked afterwards.
(Photo: Peter Kneffel/dpa)
The reason for this is the persistent storms of the past few days. It has been raining almost continuously since Saturday evening. The level of the Isar reached 317 centimeters on Wednesday morning at 10.15 a.m., which means that the second flood notification level has been reached. It applies from a level of 300 centimeters, the first from a level of 240 centimeters.
The city in the rain: Munich is normally less reddish.
(Photo: Robert Haas/Robert Haas)
In the meantime, meteorologists assumed that the precipitation had already decreased on Wednesday night. That hope has died down. The water management office now says: “Further precipitation in the intermediate catchment area has caused the water levels of the Isar to rise again. As a result, the water levels were even higher than forecast.” The peak should be reached during the night on Thursday, with an Isar level of up to 325 centimetres.
The city blocked the Isar cycle path on Monday evening, here the feed at the Reichenbach Bridge.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
One of the immediate consequences: the Isar cycle path and footpath on the right bank of the Isar is closed until further notice. For security reasons, the city already sealed off this on Monday evening, as well as the raft channel and thus the inlet to the raft landing. The Flaucher and Marienklausesteg are now also closed. In addition, the state capital has warned the homeless in the Isar high bed.
The brown color of the river is a natural spectacle. When the precipitation subsides, not only the sky but also the Isar turns blue again.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
The brown discoloration of the Isar is another consequence of the ongoing precipitation. There are far more branches, leaves and other organic material floating in the river right now, turning the water dark as it decomposes. When the rain stops and the water drains away, the river becomes clearer again.
Blocked crossing at the Marienklause.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
As the city of Munich had already announced, the crossing at the Marienklause was closed after reaching flood warning level 2.
Only the bravest – and water resistant – dare to go jogging in this weather.
(Photo: Robert Haas/Robert Haas)
When jogging, cycling and walking, the people of Munich get pretty wet. At least those who venture out at all in this weather. By the end of the week the weather is supposed to be brighter, 25 degrees Celsius and sunshine.