Weather Service
Severe weather warning of the highest level in the southwest
Fire brigade forces clear a street in Söhnstetten in the Heidenheim district (Baden-Württemberg) after a hail storm. photo
© Jason Cheplyakov/dpa
It is raining heavily in the south and west of Germany. The German Weather Service has now declared the highest severe weather warning level for some regions.
The German Weather Service (DWD) warns of storms in the south and west of Germany. Saarland and the south of Rhineland-Palatinate are particularly affected. A warning of extreme storms of the highest level four was in effect here on Friday morning. There was also one for a strip from southern North Rhine-Westphalia to the Swiss border in Baden-Württemberg Level three severe weather warning.
Heavy, continuous rain is to be expected in these areas, the DWD said. In Saarland and southern Rhineland-Palatinate, up to 100 liters of precipitation per square meter could fall in 12 to 15 hours. There is also a threat of isolated thunderstorms with heavy rain here on Friday morning.
Few operations for police and fire departments
It rained heavily in the southwest and west of Germany during the night, but fire and police operations were still limited.
According to the police, the first weather-related police operations in Saarland took place early on Friday morning, the situation center in Saarbrücken announced in the morning. Emergency services were deployed across the country and closed several roads due to flooding. The focus was therefore on Saarbrücken and Sankt Wendel. There were also cellars that were full – so far no injuries to people.
In Baden-Württemberg there were slightly more traffic accidents at night, said a police spokesman. But there were no injuries or deaths. In Stuttgart, the fire department had to pump out water from the flooded Berger Tunnel.