weather
Higher river levels after continuous rain in southern Germany
Changeable weather: clouds are moving across the sky above the Bavarian church of Wilparting in Irschenberg. photo
© Uwe Lein/dpa
It was not as bad as feared for the time being with the heavy rain in southern Germany. But many rivers and streams are once again running properly. In the Rhine, on the other hand, low tide is announced.
First too little rain, then in some places even too much: In the south of Bavaria, heavy continuous rain on Saturday night caused the rivers to swell considerably. The German Weather Service (DWD) also warned of heavy rain in the south-east of the Free State at noon. Up to 80 liters per square meter could still fall there.
More water in Bavaria’s rivers
Higher levels were recorded on Saturday, especially in the areas of the smaller southern tributaries to the upper Danube, the Altmühl, on the upper reaches of the Iller and Lech, the tributaries to Lake Constance and in the Inn area, as reported by the Bavarian flood intelligence service. “On medium-sized and larger rivers, which are observed by the level measuring points with reporting levels, the amounts of rain have so far only occasionally led to overflows.” Due to the dynamic weather development, however, floods are difficult to predict.
The region from Swabia to Lake Constance, the Allgäu and parts of Upper Bavaria were particularly affected by the heavy rainfall. In some cases, more than 100 liters per square meter fell, in some places the usual monthly total. However, the effects have remained minor, as the rainfall deficit of the past few months has meant that most rivers and streams have had low water.
The water level on the Rhine, on the other hand, remains low. In Cologne, the level was measured at 74 centimeters in the morning – one centimeter less than the day before (5:00 a.m.). The historic low in 2018 was 69 centimeters.
No major deployments in bad weather
According to the police in the morning, there were no major storm operations. In Lower Bavaria, aquaplaning occurred on some federal roads. No one was seriously injured in the accident, according to police.
In other European countries, severe storms had already occurred on Thursday and Friday – some with fatal consequences. Five people died in Austria alone as a result of fallen trees, and at least eleven others were injured. In Vorarlberg there were floods and significant traffic obstructions again on Saturday night.
Quiet start to the week in sight
For Germany there are still individual showers in the south-east and north-west on Sunday, according to the DWD. In the north-west, short thunderstorms cannot be ruled out in the afternoon. Otherwise it stays mostly dry. The temperatures rise to 23 to 29 degrees.
At the start of the week on Monday it could still rain occasionally in Lower Bavaria and Upper Lusatia. Otherwise it will remain partly cloudy, partly friendly for longer. Values of around 23 degrees are expected in the southeast, otherwise temperatures could climb to 26 to 30 degrees.
According to the meteorologists, changing to heavy clouds will spread from the west to the middle on Tuesday. Occasionally some rain falls. Otherwise it will remain clear to cloudy and the temperatures will rise to 26 to 30 degrees.