Weather - Floods in NRW take a breather - new continuous rain is coming
A weekend with little precipitation has brought a brief respite to the flood regions in North Rhine-Westphalia. "Overall, the trend in water levels is downwards," said a spokesperson for the NRW Ministry of the Environment when asked by the German Press Agency on Saturday. The water levels also continued to fall on Sunday - on the Rhine near Cologne by around 50 centimetres to around six meters, according to estimates by the waterways administration WSV for Sunday. This means that the restrictions on shipping could be lifted completely.
After what is expected to be a relatively dry New Year's Eve with only occasional showers, the German Weather Service DWD is forecasting significantly worse weather and a "continuous rain situation" for Monday evening and Tuesday night. According to the DWD, 40 to 60 liters of water per square meter could fall within 48 hours as of Sunday afternoon. In some cases, as much as 80 liters and thus severe weather precipitation is possible.
This means that the flood areas in NRW, especially along the Weser and Lippe rivers, are likely to face new burdens.
On Sunday, only four water levels were above the information value 3, exclusively in the Weser area in East Westphalia. This means that built-up areas around it could also be flooded to a greater extent. Information value 2 was still exceeded at several water levels on the Lippe.
In view of the easing of the situation on the Lippe and its tributary Glenne, the district of Soest had already lifted the major emergency situation for the entire district on Saturday. However, this does not mean that the all-clear has been given, especially in view of the forecasts. Lippstadt and Lippetal are being monitored in particular. Due to the very high groundwater levels, further cellars were also in danger of flooding. The district of Soest is still urgently advising against entering riverbank areas or dykes.
The city of Minden had already warned on Friday that the massive flooding of the past few days had led to a contamination of the drinking water with bacteria. The contamination with germs could cause diarrhea and other illnesses. The public health department has issued a boiling order for the city's drinking water.
In the meantime, a disinfection system has been installed in a municipal waterworks. It is not necessary to extend the boiling order to neighboring communities, the city announced on Saturday. The population had also been informed in part via fire department loudspeaker vans.
Flood portal NRW DWD NRW Warning from the city of Minden PM District of Soest
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- Despite the brief respite, the flood regions in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) are bracing for new continuous rain, as forecasted by the German Weather Service (DWD) for Monday evening and Tuesday night.
- The continuous rain predicted by the DWD could bring significant precipitation, up to 80 liters per square meter in some areas, potentially burdening flood regions in NRW, especially along the Weser and Lippe rivers.
- On Sunday, four water levels in the Weser area in East Westphalia were above the information value 3, indicating a potential for greater flooding of built-up areas.
- The recent easing of the situation on the Lippe and its tributary Glenne led the district of Soest to lift the major emergency situation on Saturday, but officials continue to urge caution due to the forecasted weather.
- The BMU (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety) spokesperson reported a downward trend in water levels across the flood region in NRW, with the Rhine near Cologne decreasing by around 50 centimeters on Sunday.
- The water authority WSV estimated that the decreasing water level on the Rhine near Cologne could lift the restrictions on shipping completely, providing a temporary reprieve for transportation in the area.
- The city of Düsseldorf, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, has also been monitoring the situation closely, as flood warnings and monitoring remain essential to ensure public safety and prevent further damage.
- The German Press Agency reported on the respite from the continuous rain and its impact on the flood regions in NRW, highlighting the importance of adhering to weather alerts and advisories in order to remain safe during times of surface water and river flooding.
- Various municipalities like Minden have issued boiling orders for their drinking water due to bacterial contamination resulting from the floods, emphasizing the need to remain vigilant and informed regarding the local weather conditions and safety advisories.
Source: www.stern.de
