Heavy rains cause massive flooding in the area. - After stormy weather, water levels in the Rhine increase, making protective barriers necessary.
Due to heavy rainfall in South Germany, water levels are increasing in Hesse. In Wiesbaden, officials have implemented precautionary steps to manage the growing water levels of the Rhine and Main rivers and have erected flood barriers. Preliminary reports suggest that the Rhine will hit these barriers on Monday. In Southern Hesse, the level of the Neckar river is also on the rise. The alert level three has been announced at the measuring station in Rockenau, Baden-Württemberg, which translates to a catastrophic flood.
As per a map from the Hessian State Office for Nature Conservation, Environment, and Geology (HLNUG), four watercourses in Hesse surpassed the level one warning on Sunday morning. However, the HLNUG had not anticipated any additional warnings by Monday morning.
Traffic disruptions due to heavy rain
The A7 motorway in Hesse was blocked for several hours on Sunday night because of flooding. Mudflowed across the lanes and water had risen up to 50cm in some areas. Police in Fulda reported that the road was unnavigable. Since Saturday evening, the north-south axis was not passable in both directions. The southbound route was reopened around 11:00 p.m., but the northbound route remained closed until Sunday morning at 3:00 a.m. Also, numerous roads in Alsfeld were submerged due to heavy rains.
Flood barriers installed on the Rhine
A flood barrier has been established in the Wiesbaden district of Kostheim, according to a fire department statement early Sunday morning. In the Rhine-adjacent district of Schierstein, a pump system was also deployed. The fire department advised people to steer clear of parking spaces close to the river in the coming days, as they may require additional measures. At the moment, it is not presumed that other actions will be needed.
Weekly weather forecast for Hessen shows mostly dry conditions for the start of the week. On Monday and Tuesday, temperatures are predicted to range from 18 to 22 degrees, with no rain predicted by the German Weather Service (DWD). Only on Tuesday evening is there a slight possibility of a few raindrops in the northwest of Hessen.
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The flooding in Baden-Württemberg has also affected areas near the Rhine, requiring the deployment of flood barriers. Offenbach, a city in Southern Hesse, has been actively preparing for potential floods due to the rising water levels. The current climate in Southern Germany has been marked by heavy precipitation, contributing to the high water levels. The Environmental Protection Agency in Hesse has been closely monitoring the weather and the water level in the Rhine and its tributaries like the Neckar. The recent storm has led to significant increases in water levels, putting numerous areas at risk of flooding. The fire department in Wiesbaden has issued warnings for residents in flood-prone areas, advising them to stay indoors and avoid parking near the river. On a positive note, the weather forecast for the upcoming week indicates somewhat drier conditions in Hesse, which may help in reducing the flood risk.
