Current Climate Predictions - South experiences flood emergency as rescue teams struggle to cope
Following a stressful night, emergency responders in parts of Baden-Württemberg are still battling the possibility of flooding. A central sandbag stockpile has been arranged at the Friedrichshafen fairground on Lake Constance, as per reports from the fire department. Approximately 10,000 sandbags are expected to be transported from a neighboring district. By midnight, around 780 emergency workers from fire departments, Technical Relief Organization, and the German Red Cross were on duty.
In various communities alongside the rivers which have endured continuous rainfall in Southern Germany, there's a potential for severe flooding on Saturday. Although there were no major floods overnight, a hundred-year flood is predicted for many areas. The primary focus is on the Lake Constance region: Around 1,300 residents were advised to vacate their homes in Meckenbeuren on Friday night.
The situation has slightly improved, according to the fire department spokesperson. In general, it's believed that water levels will recede a bit, as a significant amount of water has already entered the Bodensee. A school was secured with sandbags as the flood risk at that location was ambiguous. "We're monitoring the situation," the fire department spokesperson said.
Avoid basement areas
Near Weingarten near Ravensburg, the situation was described as slightly less dire on Saturday morning. However, a warning couldn’t be lifted yet, a representative asserted. Residents were advised on Friday night to reside with relatives and friends outside the regions threatened by rising water levels and to stay away from basements.
In Lindau am Bodensee, the first streets and underpasses flooded on Friday evening, and the public transit service was discontinued. Firefighters and the Technical Relief Organization were in constant operation. Residents had to be evacuated from a multi-family structure due to the risk of a short circuit as a result of water seeping in.
Landscape show closed
The flood alarm was issued in Wangen im Allgäu on Friday night. The landscape show will not operate on Saturday due to safety concerns, a municipal spokesperson declared. "There's a lot of water in the river, and it's unclear how the situation will progress, as there are additional rainfall warnings for the upcoming hours," they said. The Argen's water level is being continuously observed.
Landslide near Reutlingen
Prolonged rainfall caused a partial landslide on the L383 road between Reutlingen and Göningen. The closure between Reutlingen and Göningen is estimated to last from Saturday morning until the afternoon, as per police. Water levels in the region are also ascending, and there's a significant risk of flooding in numerous locations.
128 liters of rainfall per square meter prevailed in 24 hours in some places in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.
The rising water levels of rivers are causing concerns further north, including the Danube and its tributaries. In certain locations, flooding is anticipated, which statistically happens only every 50 to 100 years.
The river Zusam in the Augsburg district has already gone overboard, flooded streets, and caused some cellars to be inundated in the market town of Fischach. Notably, there were no intense damage or casualties, the police reported early Saturday morning. Zusam attained level three out of four at the Fleinhausen gauge overnight.
"The situation demands our utmost attention"
In the vicinity, the Günzburg district announced a state of emergency on Friday evening - precautionarily. The objective is to more efficiently aid potentially affected cities and municipalities by engaging all emergency services in the district.
Camping and recreation areas alongside the rivers Günz, Kammel, and Mindel should be cleared - these sites might accommodate guests at the Legoland amusement park during the Pentecost holidays. "The situation necessitates our full attention," emphasized the landrat Hans Reichhart (CSU) on Friday evening. "We want to utilize the remaining time before the flood arrives in the Günzburg district prudently."
In the Biberach district, residents in affected areas are encouraged to prioritize their safety. They should also create emergency kits and obtain the NINA warning app on their smartphones to receive timely information - configured so that an alert sounds in the event of an evacuation order. "The phone must be switched on and not in flight mode," said the county administration of the particularly impacted region of Ravensburg.
Flood risk exists in Hesse, severe weather peril in eastern Germany
The rain caused water levels in rivers to increase - further hikes are in the forecast. In Hesse, the state office for nature conservation, environmental protection, and geology anticipates a flood that occurs statistically only once every 20 years on the Rhine and Neckar.
Folks in eastern Germany need to brace themselves for some heavy rain and possible thunderstorms. But don't worry, it seems Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt won't have it as bad as initially thought. [This translation has been converted from German to English.]
