Weather disturbance leads to sporadic heavy rainfall and strong winds. - Increased rainfall within the flooded region
Filled-up wine cellars, flooded streets, and abandoned homes: The flood scenario in southern Germany continues to be unpredictable and puzzling. Plenty of aid workers have been actively tackling the floods since the start of the week in places such as Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Certain regions are seeing worsening conditions. So far, the tragic outcome involves one firefighter's death and two unaccounted-for individuals.
Growing crisis in Baden-Württemberg
After fresh rainfall during the night, the situation has deteriorated further in specific regions of Baden-Württemberg. With new rainfall on the horizon and water levels increasing, more residences are being emptied, especially around Stuttgart.
In Ebersbach an der Fils, a town located south of the state capital, locals in several streets faced evacuation. Unfortunately, the local authorities couldn't initially specify how many were impacted.
Rainfall has also affected the small town of Rudersberg in the Rems-Murr district. A fire department spokesperson stated that all streets are shut down. Additionally, the Black Forest dealt with landslides caused by the excessive showers, particularly in the Black Forest-Baar region.
Enhanced conditions in Ostalbkreis
The Ostalbkreis region has faced some relief as the discharge volume from the Lein river lessens. A representative for the crisis staff reported on Monday morning that most people could now return to their homes after evacuation.
Two casualties and one missing in Bavaria
Bavaria's Minister President, Markus Söder (CSU), sees the hazard in Bavaria as yet to be contained. "It's getting a bit better but it's not under control," he said on Deutschlandfunk on Monday. Even if the rain stops, the water levels in larger rivers will still rise from the inflows, he added. Meanwhile, Regensburg on the Danube has declared a disaster.
In Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, a firefighter perished overnight on Sunday while performing a rescue operation using a hose boat. From Tuesday, a missing firefighter in Offingen remains unfound by rescue teams. The search will proceed, stated a police spokesperson on Monday.
Since Sunday, a woman has been missing in Schrobenhausen, Upper Bavaria. As divers couldn't enter the flooded cellar of her home on Sunday, pumps are now utilized. This allows hope for finding the 43-year-old.
A breached dam in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm of the river Paar has troubled the district. Chancellor Scholz along with Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is anticipated to visit Reichertshofen on Monday. Numerous areas, like Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, have been inundated by water masses.
Schools and railway impacted
Learning facilities and kindergartens in severely affected regions of both states had to suspend classroom instruction on Monday, while some institutions resorted to providing emergency care for young learners.
Rail traffic has been affected due to the current weather patterns. The Deutsche Bahn has been urging against traveling to South Germany amid train failures, specifically towards Stuttgart, Würzburg, and Nuremberg, according to a Monday announcement.
What's next?
The German Meteorological Service (DWD) is anticipating heavy rain and storms in southwest Germany early in the week. There could be 30-40 liters of rainfall per square meter in the region below the Swabian Alp. Strong thunderstorms with heavy rain and occasional hail could occur in areas such as Upper Swabia, Lake Constance, and the Allgäu.
For Monday, the DWD predicts showers and showery rain in the south of the Danube and the Bavarian Forest. Heavy showers might occur in the afternoon with the possibility of additional rainfall.
"Rainfall is becoming ever more frequent due to global warming"
In response to the question whether the current floods could be associated with global warming, Stefan Rahmstorf, a climate scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), informed "Spiegel": "You can't connect specific extreme weather events to climate change. However, it is a fact: We are witnessing more frequent and heavier rainfall due to global warming." While comparing data from 1950-1980 and present, we note that daily rainfall records have increased by approximately 30 percent.
"Seen in light of the continuous rainfall, the DWD issued a grave weather warning for Tübingen."
Gerda Hasselfeldt, the German Red Cross (DRK) President and CSU politician, pressed for more funding for disaster management in the "Augsburger Allgemeinen": "Germany lacks resources in this domain. We need a changes direction, especially when considering future-oriented financing of disaster relief services."
Read also:
- Olaf Scholz and Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser are expected to visit Reichertshofen in Bavaria due to a breached dam in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm.
- In Bavaria, Markus Söder, the Minister President of the CSU, acknowledges that the hazard in Bavaria is not yet under control.
- The situation in specific regions of Baden-Württemberg has worsened further after fresh rainfall during the night.
- Plenty of aid workers have been actively tackling the floods in places such as Ebersbach an der Fils and Rudersberg in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.
- In Ebersbach an der Fils, locals in several streets faced evacuation due to the heavy rainfall, but the number of affected individuals was initially unclear.
- The Ostalbkreis region in Baden-Württemberg has seen some relief as the discharge volume from the Lein river lessens, allowing most evacuated people to return home.
- In Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, a firefighter lost his life while performing a rescue operation using a hose boat during a thunderstorm, and a missing firefighter remains unfound in Offingen.
- Schools and kindergartens in severely affected regions of both Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria had to suspend classroom instruction on Monday.
- Deutsche Bahn has urged against traveling to South Germany due to train failures, especially towards Stuttgart, Würzburg, and Nuremberg.
- According to the German Meteorological Service (DWD), heavy rain and storms are expected in southwest Germany early in the week, with a potential of 30-40 liters of rainfall per square meter.
- In response to the question of whether the current floods are associated with global warming, Stefan Rahmstorf, a climate scientist from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), stated that more frequent and heavier rainfall is a fact due to global warming.
- Gerda Hasselfeldt, the German Red Cross (DRK) President and CSU politician, argues for more funding for disaster management in the "Augsburger Allgemeinen," suggesting a change in direction for future-oriented financing of disaster relief services.
- The weather disturbance leads to sporadic heavy rainfall and strong winds, resulting in a flood situation in several parts of southern Germany, including towns like Ebersbach an der Fils and Rudersberg.
- As a result of the excessive rainfall and the worsening flood situation, numerous areas in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria are facing evacuations, damaged infrastructure, and the need for emergency aid from aid organizations.
