Extreme storms are expected in many parts of Germany on Friday. From the afternoon, thunderstorms, hail and storms are to be expected, possibly also with tornadoes. Follow all events here in the star ticker.
With lightning, thunder and heavy rain, the storms expected for large parts of Germany came from the west on Friday. The thunderstorms caused by low “Emmelinde” hit North Rhine-Westphalia first. For parts of the federal state, the German Weather Service (DWD) issued the first official severe weather warning in the early afternoon due to severe thunderstorms. The meteorologists later extended the warning to Rhineland-Palatinate, Thuringia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
The reports on the storm in Germany on Friday, May 20th:
7.32 p.m .: Trees on tracks in the greater Nuremberg area – rail traffic restricted
Due to numerous trees on the track, there are considerable restrictions on rail traffic in the Nuremberg area on Friday evening. DB Regio Bayern announced this via Twitter. The S-Bahn traffic on the Neustadt-Aisch-Steinach and Bad Windsbach-Wicklesgreuth routes must be completely stopped. After midsummer days in Bavaria, the German Weather Service had forecast heavy storms for Friday. In Franconia there were some violent thunderstorms.
6.43 p.m .: Storm also causes major damage in Paderborn – more than 30 injured
The storm also caused major damage in Paderborn. 30 to 40 people were injured, “ten of them seriously,” says a police spokesman for the AFP news agency. According to this, “a tornado ran right through the city” in North Rhine-Westphalia and caused damage worth millions. A suspected tornado also caused massive damage in Lippstadt, about 35 kilometers away, in the afternoon.
5.49 p.m .: DWD: Level 4 severe weather warning for several areas in NRW
The German Weather Service (DWD) issued an official severe weather warning for several areas in North Rhine-Westphalia in the afternoon. Hurricane gusts and “extremely heavy” heavy rain could occur, especially in the east of the country and in the Euskirchen district. People would also have to reckon with hailstones. The level 4 severe weather warning initially applies in many places until 6 p.m.
“We’re noticing a somewhat stronger thunderstorm in the Eifel area,” said a DWD meteorologist. “These are two larger cells that move across the area in quick succession and can bring more rain.” This storm could pass North Rhine-Westphalia in the border area. Further individual thunderstorms moving from the west to NRW cannot be ruled out in the evening either.