Heavy Rainbring excessive water flooding areas. - Receding floodwaters, yet more rain forecast.
The brown floodwater of the recent days is starting to recede, but trouble might be on the horizon for some regions. The Alpine regions will experience more rainfall from tonight until Monday, which could cause the water levels to rise again and surpass warning levels, as per the Flood Warning Service (HND)'s statement from Saturday.
Many cities and districts saw the disaster situation as necessary, with the situation especially tense in Regensburg due to the very slow receding water. The flood protection measures in Werftstraße have been completed, but the extent of damage is unknown. There are currently no additional measures planned. The flood protection mechanisms are still in place despite the decreasing levels of the Danube, and the disaster situation will not be lifted just yet.
Since June 3, a disaster situation has been in effect in Regensburg. The average water level at the Eisernes Tor gauge was 2.70 meters from May 28 to June 5, then increased to 6.17 meters on June 5 in the morning. As of Saturday morning, HND reported 4.88 meters. Experts found that 6.82 meters were measured during the previous major flood on June 4, 2013, and 6.60 meters on August 14, 2002.
In Passau, the disaster situation was declared at 7.83 meters at the Ilzstadt/Donau gauge on Saturday afternoon, corresponding to warning level 3. On Tuesday, it peaked at 9.72 meters, which is typical of around 5.50 meters.
In Straubing, the disaster situation was lifted on Saturday because the Danube was expected to fall below warning level 3 by evening.
The disaster situation no longer applies in the Kelheim district of Lower Bavaria after nearly a week. "Cleanup work has begun at several locations," said the local emergency manager, Nikolaus Höfler. However, water levels along the Danube are still high.
The water is also receding in Upper Bavaria. The disaster situation in the Pfaffenhofen district will remain in effect, with cleanup efforts being focused on towns like Baar-Ebenhausen and Lindach. The emergency services are still pumping cellars.
After a week of cleanup efforts, we've entered a strenuous phase, said the district administrator of the Unterallgäu district, Alexander Eder (Free Voters), to Bayerischer Rundfunk. The initial 1100 tons of debris blocked the local waste incineration plant.
The waste incineration plant in Ingolstadt is also overwhelmed with the large amount of waste that accumulated in the region due to the flood. The acceptance of waste at the waste disposal sites in Pfaffenhofen must be stopped, according to the Landratsamt Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm. It's expected that waste can be accepted again from Monday, but in limited quantities.
The situation is starting to ease further in the flooded areas of Bavaria, as per authorities. However, the German Weather Service predicts thunderstorms with heavy rain and local storms from the southwest on Saturday afternoon. A severe weather warning has been issued for Swabia, Middle Franconia, and Upper Bavaria.
The Isar is expected to rise again in Munich, Lenggries, and Egling, but only to the first alert level, where the water might overflow onto the banks in certain places. However, the HND anticipates an increase to the second alert level at some measuring stations, where agricultural land could be flooded, such as in Plattling and the Inkofen/Amper gauge.
Despite the announced new rainfall, it's expected that the flood situation will keep improving. "Local thunderstorm rain showers won't have any long-term impact," said the HND on Saturday. Yet, widespread alert levels may be surpassed on Monday night.
Read also:
- The forecast calls for more rain in Lower Bavaria's Alpine regions from tonight until Monday, potentially leading to another flood disaster case like the one in Regensburg.
- The Storm Warning Service (WSW) has reported that the Danube river level is still higher than the reporting level despite the receding floodwaters, raising concerns for some areas in Bavaria.
- During the weekend, extreme weather with heavy rain and thunderstorms struck OBERPFALZ, causing additional challenges for disaster-stricken cities like Regensburg.
- The recent floods have resulted in a higher reporting level for the Danube at the measuring station in Regensburg, surpassing the levels recorded during the 2013 and 2002 flood disasters.
- As per the latest flood report, the situation in Regensburg has improved, but local authorities in Lenggries, Munich, and Egling are preparing for another possible flood due to heavy rain this weekend.
- The Climate Change Report predicted the possibility of such weather events, emphasizing the need for better flood protection measures and ongoing disaster reporting at all levels in Bavaria.
