Storms flood basements and underground workplaces in North Rhine-Westphalia
In NRW, heavy storms are relieving the warm and muggy days in many places. "Flooding" is reported in Duisburg, according to the fire department. One person suffers a head wound from a hailstone. However, no lives are in danger.
Storms with rain and hail have caused flooded basements and uprooted trees in several cities in North Rhine-Westphalia. "All available personnel are on duty," said a spokesperson for the Duisburg fire department. Almost the entire city area is affected. The clear focus of the operations is water-related issues - flooding in basements and underpasses. There are no serious injuries so far.
However, one person was hit so hard by a hailstone that they suffered a head wound. Otherwise, it's "the usual, just more of it." So far, 190 operations have been recorded. In Bonn, the police reported around 30 operations. "Flooded basements, broken branches, trees on the road," listed a spokesperson. However, there were no major incidents.
In Haltern am See, the fire department also carried out several operations. There too, it was mainly about flooded basements and uprooted trees. Initially, the number of operations is around 15. No lives are in danger, and there are no overflowing rivers.
In the evening, the German Weather Service (DWD) warned of storms. Locally, there could be heavy downpours (up to 40 liters per square meter in a short time) and severe gusts of wind up to 90 km/h. There will only be a temporary calm in the weather overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. Further thunderstorms with storm potential are possible, partly already in the course of the night.
Record-breaking 36.2 degrees Celsius measured in NRW
In the coming days, people in North Rhine-Westphalia can expect hot days and warm nights. "The temperatures remain relatively high at night and reach a minimum of 20 to 22 degrees," said a meteorologist from the DWD.
With more than 36 degrees, there has been a record-breaking temperature in NRW, according to preliminary data from the DWD. 36.2 degrees were recorded in Ennigerloh-Ostenfelde in the district of Warendorf, as a spokesperson announced. The highest temperature recorded this year in NRW was 35.4 degrees. However, these are preliminary figures.
The DWD had issued an extreme heat warning for NRW. On Wednesday, the weather service expects peak temperatures that will be slightly lower.
The Duisburg fire department reported that they have mobilized all their available personnel to tackle the flooding issues caused by the storms. The Commission for disaster management in North Rhine-Westphalia is closely monitoring the situation to provide necessary aid and support.
