Rain and strong wind characterize Christmas Day in parts of Germany. Storm surges are warned for the Weser, Elbe and the North Sea coast. In other parts of the country, many rivers are at risk of flooding.
For Christmas Day, the German Weather Service (DWD) warns of the ongoing risk of flooding in many streams and rivers in Germany. In addition, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) issued storm surge warnings for the Weser and Elbe areas as well as for the North Sea coast of Lower Saxony.
In Bremen and Bremerhaven, the Weser is expected to reach the storm surge mark of 1.5 meters above mean high water (MHW) by midday, as the BSH announced in the evening. In Lower Saxony, Elsfleth, Brake and Rechtenfleth an der Weser are also expected to be affected, according to the forecast. The BSH has issued a warning for Wilhelmshaven on the Lower Saxony North Sea coast. According to the forecast, the storm surge threshold should be reached there in the morning. According to the forecast, the storm surge mark could be reached in Dagebüll and at the Eider barrage near Tönning.
According to the forecast in Hamburg, the Elbe is expected to reach the storm surge threshold of 1.5 meters above mean high water (MHW) in the afternoon. Such values could then also be measured at the Elbe water levels in Glückstadt, Wedel-Schulau and Geesthacht.
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Many water levels in Lower Saxony are at third warning level
The water is also still high on many other rivers and streams in Lower Saxony. According to the Lower Saxony State Office for Water Management, Coasts and Nature Conservation (NLWKN), 45 water levels had reached the third of four warning levels on Monday night. The rivers Weser, Aller, Leine and Oker, among others, exceeded this threshold. At level three, flooding of properties and larger areas, as well as streets and basements, is possible.
The helpers in Celle had their hands full. Large areas on Aller and Fuhse are already flooded, as the fire department announced on Monday morning. On Christmas Eve, the fire brigade and the technical relief organization first secured an old people’s and nursing home from the floods with sandbags. But during the evening the home had to be evacuated as a precautionary measure for safety reasons. The helpers in the city filled sandbags and went out to full cellars well into the night.
There was also an acute warning on Christmas Eve for Rodenberg (Schaumburg district), also in Sarstedt (Hildesheim district) and Hann. The situation in Münden (Göttingen district) was precarious. Emergency services were in constant use, and in many places attempts were also made to combat the masses of water with sandbags. The DWD issued severe weather warnings for the Harz region.
High water levels also in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate
Due to flooding on the Rhine, all ferry traffic between Remagen-Kripp and Linz in northern Rhineland-Palatinate will be suspended from 10 a.m. today. Operation will only be possible again when the water level drops. Linz and Remagen are located on the Middle Rhine, close to the border with North Rhine-Westphalia. The flood report from the Rhineland-Palatinate State Office for the Environment said on Sunday that the water levels on the Middle Rhine would continue to rise; because of the flood wave on the Moselle in combination with the flood wave on the Upper Rhine. 6.69 meters were measured at the Andernach gauge on Sunday evening at 7:15 p.m. The forecast for Monday and Tuesday shows a further increase; to a maximum of 8.27 meters on Tuesday afternoon.
The risk of flooding remains high in many parts of North Rhine-Westphalia due to renewed rainfall and saturated soils. According to data from the State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (Lanuv), the Weser tributaries in the eastern part of the country are particularly badly affected. The highest warning threshold was exceeded yesterday afternoon at five measuring stations on the Weser tributaries. This indicates the risk that built-up areas could be flooded to a greater extent.
Wind slowly dies down
According to the DWD forecast, the wind in Germany is expected to decrease over the course of the day. Initially, squalls are still possible in the higher mountains, and severe squalls or hurricane-like gusts are also possible on summits. Dry and sunny periods are also expected in the south, north and northeast of Germany.
According to the forecast, it will be rainy today, especially in the west and southeast of the country, and in the northwest and western areas of many low mountain ranges, continuous rain is expected in some cases. In the Ore Mountains and the Bavarian Forest, additional water runoff can be expected due to the mild thaw at eight to 14 degrees.