Storms in Thuringia: Lightning strike and flooding

Weather - Storms in Thuringia: Lightning strike and flooding

Heavy thunderstorms kept the fire department on alert in parts of Thuringia on Thursday evening. The Bundesstraße 281 near Neuhaus had to be closed early in the evening due to flooding, according to a spokesperson at the crisis center in the Erfurt Interior Ministry. Water and gravel had gotten onto the road; the Bundesstraße was blocked at its confluence with Priese, and traffic was being rerouted.

According to reports from the responsible rescue control center in Gerthausen in the municipality of Rhönblick, the fire department was in action to pump out cellars. Parts of the town were briefly under water due to heavy rain, as the creek Herpf swelled rapidly. "The situation has already calmed down," it was reported in the evening.

At noon, a lightning strike hit a semi-detached house in Ilmenau (Ilm-Kreis) and caused extensive damage. The roof truss caught fire, and a witness called the police, according to reports. The firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the other semi-detached house. No injuries were reported, and the property damage was estimated to be at least 120,000 Euros.

The German Weather Service (DWD) warned parts of the free state in the afternoon of severe thunderstorms. Affected were the districts of Gotha, Schmalkalden-Meiningen, and Wartburgkreis. The meteorologists also warned of dangerous lightning strikes, and uprooted trees and high-voltage power lines.

Press release Warning card DWD [

(Note: The image is a warning map from the German Weather Service)

1. The Ministry of the Interior in Erfurt issued an emergency response plan, anticipating potential issues caused by the severe weather conditions in Thuringia.
2. The Fire department in Erfurt was prepared to deal with any fires that might occur during the thunderstorms, due to the increased risk of lightning strikes.
3. On Friday, a new house under construction in Erfurt faced damage from a heavy storm, with strong winds overturning construction materials.
4. The DWD had issued a warning for Thuringia, including Erfurt, and recommended that residents stay indoors during the peak of the storm to avoid possible flooding and fires caused by lightning.
5. In Erfurt, the main road was temporarily closed after a tree was uprooted during the storm, causing traffic disruptions and necessitating the involvement of the local fire department to clear the debris.
6. The local authorities in Erfurt urged residents to stay informed about weather conditions and emergency response measures, especially in the event of flooding or fires triggered by lightning strikes.
7. In the aftermath of the storm, the relevant authorities urged the people in Thuringia, including cities like Erfurt, to be cautious when returning to their homes, checking for any damage caused by the storm and reporting it to relevant emergency services if needed.

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