Heavy thunderstorms hit Saxony – flooding “in all districts”
18.45: Thunderstorms with heavy rain moved from west to east across Saxony on Sunday as part of a low pressure system. Severe weather warnings were issued for all regions during the course of the day. The Interior Ministry’s situation center said that there were reports of flooded streets and basements full of water “from all districts.”
The state capital Dresden was hit hardest, as a meteorologist from the German Weather Service (DWD) in Leipzig reported. The fire brigade received a constant stream of calls about flooded cellars, fallen trees, flooded streets, flooded underground car parks and underpasses, including in the Meißen and Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains districts, a spokesman said. All professional and volunteer fire brigades in the area were deployed.
The Dresden city festival was interrupted for an hour during the storm. According to the organizers, all the vendors have returned and the stages are back in use, a spokesman said. It will continue until 10 p.m. – only the closing fireworks display cannot take place due to the wet weather.
According to the DWD, the largest amount of rain in the country fell in Pillnitz in the east of Dresden, with 71 litres per square metre per hour, 51 litres in the neighbouring district of Hosterwitz and 41 litres in Dippoldiswalde, said the DWD meteorologist. “The thunderstorms will stop during the night, but it can still rain heavily,” said the meteorologist.
Rollercoaster summer continues – Sunny from Monday
Sunday, August 18, 2:55 p.m.: After thunderstorms and some heavy rain over the weekend, the German Weather Service (DWD) is expecting sunshine from Monday onwards. However, the good weather will not last, the authority said.
According to meteorologists, the weather will calm down later on Sunday, while the low pressure system will move east. Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain are therefore possible in parts of Saxony and Bavaria. The storms are expected to ease there overnight. Experts are expecting hardly any thunderstorms on Monday. However, the persistent rain that will begin in the southeast on Sunday is expected to continue until Monday lunchtime.
Otherwise, a high pressure system will ensure sunshine on Monday and Tuesday, according to the DWD. “At the start of the week, high pressure system ‘Nikolas’ will bring a sunny smile to the faces of many regions in this country,” it says in a statement. Only south of the Danube and especially on the edge of the Alps could some rain fall. The precipitation will ease over the course of the day.
Despite the sunshine, it will remain moderately warm in many places, with temperatures below 25 degrees. In the Alps, it will even be relatively cool if it rains. The maximum temperature will be between 20 and 27 degrees, and it will be warmest in the Rhine-Main area and the Rhine-Neckar region.
According to the DWD, temperatures will rise on Tuesday and the air will become significantly warmer again. In the evening, strong gusty winds will pick up from the northwest, along with showers and some thunderstorms. The cold front will spread to the southeast by Wednesday morning. The people of Germany will continue to experience the sometimes unstable rollercoaster summer, said meteorologist Lars Kirchhübel.
Danger of forest fires high – rain and thunderstorms approaching
16:26: As a result of heat and dryness in Saxony, the risk of forest fires has been steadily increasing for days. A week ago there were only two regions with warning level 3 – Lommatzscher Pflege and the southern area of Leipzig. On Saturday morning, according to the state-owned company Sachsenforst, the entire north of the Free State and most of the Vogtland district were at risk. The overview showed a high risk for regions in the districts of Görlitz, Bautzen, Meißen and Leipzig as well as the state capital Dresden.
Last Wednesday, the Niesky Heath was even at the highest level 5, after which the situation eased – but only briefly. According to the forecast, a low level of danger is expected for large parts of Saxony on Sunday due to precipitation – and on Monday the lowest level 1 for very low danger will be in place almost across the board.
With a low pressure system over central Germany, rain and cooler air masses will move eastwards on Sunday, said a meteorologist from the German Weather Service (DWD). “The precipitation can be heavy in some places, combined with thunderstorms, especially in the low mountain ranges and in Upper Lusatia.” With 24 degrees in the Leipzig area and 26 degrees on the Neisse, it will cool down a bit – then to 21 to 24 degrees on Monday, but without rain.
Thunderstorms and showers in Bavaria
Saturday, August 17, 09:44: After a night with many thunderstorms, similar weather is expected in parts of Bavaria during the day. The German Weather Service (DWD) is also expecting a few showers. Thunderstorms are expected until midday, especially in the Alb region and south of it. According to the DWD, there could be heavy rain locally with up to 25 litres per square metre. The highest temperatures are expected to be between 24 degrees in the Allgäu and 30 degrees on the Main.
There were already heavy thunderstorms during the night. According to the DWD, areas in Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria and Swabia were particularly affected. Because of the thunderstorms, meteorologists warned of “danger to life and limb from lightning strikes”. The severe weather warning remained in effect in the morning for some parts of Bavaria.
On Sunday it will be very cloudy to overcast. The maximum temperatures will be lower, with temperatures between 18 degrees in the Allgäu and 24 degrees on the Lower Main. There will also be isolated thunderstorms at the beginning.
Weekend will be changeable and cooler
Friday, August 16, 1:13 p.m.: Sun, rain and thunderstorms: The weather will be changeable this weekend. After recent high summer temperatures, the German Weather Service (DWD) is also expecting a cooling down on Sunday. In large parts of Germany, showers and isolated, sometimes strong thunderstorms are expected again on Saturday.
Only in the northwest and north, as well as from northern Baden to the eastern low mountain ranges, will it remain mostly dry and at times sunny. Maximum temperatures in the north are expected to be between 20 and 25 degrees. “At the same time, the southern half will continue to have warm and humid subtropical air, with temperatures between 25 and 32 degrees,” said meteorologist Sonja Stöckle from the DWD. There is therefore great potential for showers and thunderstorms to develop on the edge of the Alps, “as has already occurred frequently this summer.”
Sunday is expected to be cooler. Temperatures will only climb to 19 to 24 degrees, depending on the sun – except in Lusatia, where temperatures are expected to rise to 28 degrees. Otherwise, it will be grey: According to the DWD, there will be lots of clouds and showers, some with thunderstorms, in some areas. In the west and northwest, it will clear up over the course of the day.
“There are still remnants of warm air in the south and east, which, in combination with high humidity, will lead to an increased risk of thunderstorms there until Sunday afternoon,” said Stückle. Locally, severe heavy rain cannot be ruled out.
The cooling of the air masses over Germany means that the tropical nights are also disappearing. With minimum temperatures between 15 and 8 degrees on Monday night, buildings can be effectively ventilated to cool down after the heat of the past few days, the DWD said.
The new week is expected to start a little more pleasantly and the summer weather will return. However, according to the DWD, temperatures will remain in the range of 20 to 26 degrees, with the highest values on the Upper Rhine. Only in the south will the clouds linger longer and it will rain more often.
Holidays and summer weather ensure crowded motorways
19:19: Bright sunshine and the Assumption Day holiday in many parts of Bavaria led to heavy traffic, especially on the motorways heading south and towards holiday areas. The A8, A9 and A3 were particularly affected, where there were also traffic jams. According to the police and ADAC, people returning from holiday regions and construction sites also contributed to longer waiting times on many routes. The main traffic routes in and around Munich and towards the Alpine regions were particularly busy.
According to the forecast of the German Weather Service (DWD), the weather in Bavaria will be changeable in the coming days with a mixture of sun, thunderstorms and rain. Friday will begin with sun and clouds, and strong thunderstorms may occur from midday, particularly south of the Danube. These will bring locally heavy rain and gusts of wind. In Franconia and Upper Palatinate it will remain mostly dry, with maximum temperatures between 27 and 32 degrees.
According to the DWD, warm and humid weather is expected on Saturday, with temperatures between 25 and 29 degrees. While there will only be isolated rain in Franconia, there will be frequent showers and thunderstorms in other parts of Bavaria.
Sunday will be mostly cloudy with showers and some thunderstorms. Temperatures will range between 20 degrees in the Allgäu and 26 degrees on the lower Danube.
15-year-old killed by lightning – second teenager in hospital
Thursday, August 15, 09:23: On Wednesday evening, a tragic incident occurred in the Rems-Murr district in Baden-Württemberg: Two young people sought shelter under a tree during a storm. Lightning struck and killed a 15-year-old, the second young person was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Police did not provide any further information on Thursday.
You can read more about the current weather conditions on the next page.
