Current Climate Conditions - Slow drainage of flood water keeps tension high.
The floodwaters of the lower Danube are gradually retreating. In Regensburg, authorities and first responders are worrying about the saturated ground on a street in the old town. Meanwhile, in Passau, the water levels are reducing, although at a slower pace. The region of Swabia and Upper Bavaria, which has been hit by floods, is still far from returning to normalcy. No new advancements have been made in the search for those who went missing.
The German Meteorological Service (DWD) forecasts sunshine and showers with occasional thunderstorms and heavy rain of up to 25 liters per square meter per hour for Bavaria today. Starting from the afternoon, there could be "storm-like developments" with heavy rain and hail in the southern part of the state.
In Regensburg, the focus is on Werftstraße. To ease pressure on the safety barriers, the city stopped pumping the water flowing underneath the barriers back into the Danube temporarily. There's fear of the soft ground collapsing, leading to the safety measures sliding.
By about 45 km downstream in Straubing, the flood measures are still in effect. The city administration issued a warning for the high groundwater level, asking citizens to show caution and patience. "A high groundwater level can result in water seeping into cellar rooms," it said.
From the District of Deggendorf, District Administrator Bernd Sibler (CSU) reported stable dikes with a slowly receding flood wave. The local politician begged citizens for reason: Dikes are "not party zones."
Further downstream, in Passau, the water levels on the Danube and Inn are gradually reducing, but at a high level. Last Sunday, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) visited Passau's historical center. Mayor Jürgen Dupper (SPD) looked forward: "Cleanup efforts will dominate the next few days." He also urged for patience. Starting today, schools and kindergartens in the old town can reopen.
The search for a firefighter who disappeared during a flood rescue operation on Sunday in Offingen is ongoing. The Interior Ministry reported that there were other missing persons as well. At least five people have died due to the floods in South Germany, all of them in Bavaria.
