Thunderstorms and heavy rain - Impending storm affects public viewing - and also the Germany match?
The next major EM-Party in Germany is threatened to be affected by the weather in at least parts of the country. For the DFB-team's quarterfinal match against Denmark on Saturday (8:00 PM/ZDF and MagentaTV), strong unsettled weather is forecasted. Particularly in the southwest, there is a risk of thunderstorms with heavy rain, strong storm- to hurricane-force winds, and larger hail.
Tobias Reinartz, meteorologist at the German Weather Service in Offenbach, advised against attending public viewings on Saturday. "This can be very dangerous if one is outside during this."
Frankfurt already announced consequences on Saturday afternoon and declared that the fan zones would remain closed all day. The Tourism+Congress GmbH as the organizer and the security authorities have been closely evaluating the situation with the German Weather Service in the past few hours. "They come to the conclusion that the Frankfurt fan zone cannot be safely operated under these forecasts," it was stated.
"Not recommended to extend"
In Dortmund, where Julian Nagelsmann's team's quarterfinal match at the home EM is being played, there is also a risk that a powerful thunderstorm will form towards the end of the game. "A extension would not be recommended (not only) from a meteorological perspective," Reinartz explained. According to Dortmund police, the game is currently taking place, and the fan zones are opening. "The decisions are dependent on further meteorological observation," a police spokesperson told dpa.
According to DWD forecasts, there may already be individual thunderstorms in the center of Germany during the day, followed by a pronounced thunderstorm situation in the evening. "The focus is in the southwest and shifts later to Hesse and West Thuringia," said meteorologist Reinartz. "It is essential to keep an eye on the warning situation and weather development!" Fan zones had to be evacuated due to heavy weather on Wednesday at the end of the group stage.
Stuttgart opens fan zone for EM-quarterfinal first
Likewise, Stuttgart plans to open the fan zone regularly for the quarterfinal on Saturday. "We are in constant contact with the German Weather Service and hope that we will be spared from storms," said the spokesperson for the event organization in Stuttgart, Jörg Klopfer.
The state capital is expected to be affected less severely by the DWD on Saturday than the western parts of the country. According to a spokesperson for the DWD, it will rain and be windy in Stuttgart.
In a statement from the organizers, it was stated: "The weather radar shows a thunderstorm that may be moving towards Stuttgart. The fan zones are opening as planned." The Host City Stuttgart is in close contact with the German Weather Service and will inform via its website and social media channels about the further development.
- Despite the threats of storms and heavy rain in parts of Germany, the DFB squad is set to face Denmark in their EM quarterfinal match on Saturday at 8:00 PM, broadcast on ZDF and MagentaTV.
- Tobias Reinartz, a meteorologist from the German Weather Service in Offenbach, advises against attending public viewings due to the dangerous weather conditions.
- Frankfurt has announced that their fan zones will remain closed all day on Saturday due to the impending storms and threats of thunderstorms.
- The Tourism+Congress GmbH, the organizer along with the security authorities, has evaluated the situation closely with the German Weather Service and concluded that it is not safe to operate the Frankfurt fan zone under the current forecasts.
- Dortmund is also facing a potential threat of thunderstorms towards the end of their quarterfinal game against an unknown opponent in the home EM, and Reinartz suggests that an extension of the game might not be recommended.
- Stuttgart, which is hosting the EM quarterfinal on Saturday, is planning to open their fan zone as planned despite forecasts of rain and wind.
- The Host City Stuttgart is keeping in close contact with the German Weather Service and will provide updates on the weather development via their website and social media channels.
