Germany braces for severe thunderstorms: DWD warns of heavy rain, hail, and hurricane-force gusts across multiple states

Warnings in effect

The Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) has issued severe weather warnings for large parts of Germany, with the most dangerous conditions expected in the south and east. On Friday evening, the agency warned of "extreme danger from lightning, hail, and severe gusts" in Baden-Württemberg, where all four administrative districts were placed under alert until late evening. The warnings extended north and east through Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, and into Berlin and Brandenburg.

Extreme danger from lightning, hail or severe gusts! Local flooding and significant traffic disruptions are to be expected.

What the storms will bring

The DWD forecast that thunderstorms would develop from the southwest and south, spreading across central Germany to the northeast by Friday afternoon and evening. Rainfall of 25 to 40 litres per square metre in a short time was widely expected, with isolated extreme downpours reaching 60 litres per square metre. Hailstones up to three centimetres in diameter were possible, along with severe gale-force gusts of 90 to 120 km/h. In Berlin and Brandenburg, the strongest gusts were predicted for late afternoon and evening in the south of the state, with speeds up to 110 km/h.

The storms can be very strong.

Regional impacts

Baden-Württemberg faced the highest alert level, with the DWD warning of hurricane-force gusts up to 110 km/h and rainfall of up to 60 litres per square metre in an hour. In Bavaria, the DWD cautioned of gusts up to 90 km/h, hail up to three centimetres, and the risk of aquaplaning and landslides. Saxony-Anhalt was placed under a violet-level warning for "extremely heavy rainfall" of 40 to 60 litres per square metre and severe gusts around 100 km/h. Berlin and Brandenburg were told to expect heavy thunderstorms from the afternoon, with the first rain clouds reaching the southwest of the capital around 18:20, according to wetteronline.

Weekend and beyond

The storms were expected to ease overnight into Saturday, moving east into Poland. Saturday will remain unsettled with showers and thunderstorms, though the Kraichgau to Odenwald region may stay dry. Temperatures will range from 22°C on the Swabian Alb to 28°C on the Upper Rhine. On Sunday, a new band of rain and thunderstorms will approach from the northwest, with clearing skies later in the day. Highs will drop to 18–24°C. By Monday, the weather will calm, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures between 21 and 25°C, though the Feldberg in the Black Forest may only reach 13°C.

Thursday's storms in the southwest

The warnings follow a series of severe thunderstorms on Thursday, when a supercell moved from Echterdingen near Stuttgart to Ulm, bringing wind gusts and hailstones up to five centimetres. In Ulm, falling branches and roof tiles were reported, and a tree crashed onto a moving car; the occupants were trapped and had to call emergency services. In Neckartailfingen, a carport collapsed onto four vehicles, causing an estimated €60,000 to €70,000 in damage. Police in Aalen registered more than 40 weather-related incidents, including a tree falling on a house and roads blocked by debris.