A violent weather disturbance is approaching. - The flood conditions have deteriorated in certain locations.
The flood situation in some parts of Baden-Württemberg is getting worse, with the districts of Rems-Murr and Ostalb facing a critical situation on Monday morning. Homes near the river in Abtsgmünd (Ostalbkreis) had to be evacuated due to rising water levels, and residents sought refuge in emergency shelters. It's unclear how many people were affected, and schools in the area remained closed as a precautionary measure. After days of non-stop rain, rivers and streams have overflowed in various areas of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, forcing thousands to leave their homes. Ten thousand helpers are actively participating in the rescue efforts. The German Meteorological Service cautioned that strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall might occur at the start of this week.
Critical situation on the Danube
The Danube flood warning service has yet to issue any warnings. While water levels at the tributaries have receded in many places, the Danube itself is now experiencing the brunt of the flood.
Level four, the most critical, has been reached in the current situation report from Regensburg to Straubing, and Passau could reach the same level by Monday evening. Kehlheim's river is anticipated to reach the level of a 20-year flood during the day.
The city of Regensburg has already declared a state of emergency. The water level at the Eisernen Brücke gauge climbed to 5.80 meters in the early hours of Monday; the flood warning service Bavaria reported 5.90 meters at 7 am on Monday. The previous Tuesday, the value was still roughly 2.70 meters. According to the experts' data, the water level during the major flood on June 4, 2013, was precisely 6.82 meters.
Emergency declarations were made in several Bavarian districts and cities over the weekend.
Two people go missing
Two individuals are currently missing: A firefighter vanished in the flood in the Swabian Offfen during the weekend. The rescue teams haven't found him yet. A police spokesperson stated that the search would continue.
The 22-year-old went out with a boat from the DLRG water rescue on Sunday night in the community in the district of Günzburg. The boat, operated by five rescuers, capsized due to strong currents at around 2:50 am. Four rescuers managed to save themselves and remained unharmed.
A woman from the Upper Bavarian Schrobenhausen has been missing since Sunday. The rescue teams suspected her to be in a flooded cellar. Help was unable to search for her until Sunday evening due to the dangerous situation. The police couldn't verify if she had been found by Monday morning.
Students temporarily confined to their homes
Some schoolchildren must stay at home for now. Many schools in affected regions of both states have canceled classes for Monday, with kindergartens and support centers also closed. Temporary care will be provided for younger students.
Due to weather damage, train traffic in southern Germany is experiencing significant disruptions. The German Railways (DB) informed the public overnight on Monday: "Avoid traveling to the affected flood regions in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg and postpone your unnecessary trips. Please also note that there may be high passenger loads on trains still running."
Long-distance trains cannot currently reach Munich from the north and west. Local traffic in Bavaria is also significantly disrupted. Overnight accommodations have been set up for travelers in Stuttgart, Nuremberg, and Munich.
German Weather Service: More thunderstorms with torrential rain expected
The German Weather Service (DWD) lifted all existing warnings for severe thunderstorms with heavy rain in Germany overnight on Monday. However, there are still localized rain showers with the possibility of substantial rainfall in southern Germany, as the DWD announced early on Monday morning. By noon, districts south of the Danube and the Bavarian Forest, as well as parts with thunderstorms, will experience these weather conditions.
By evening, the storms could spread southwards to the Upper Rhine and the northern Alpine foothills. There are also thunderstorms with heavy rain expected in the Alps.
The east of Germany is expected to be affected by thunderstorms with heavy rain from the afternoon onwards, between 15 and 25 liters per square meter in a short period. In certain locations, there could be thunderstorms with up to 30 liters per square meter.
Federal Chancellor visits the flooded area
Federal Chancellor Scholz (SPD) is visiting a flood-affected area for the second time in a few weeks. On Monday, he will be welcomed by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) in Reichertshofen, a market town in Upper Bavaria that was inundated by water masses.
The Municipal League: More self-reliance in flood protection
The Municipal League is calling for more personal responsibility in flood protection. They believe that communities must take proactive steps to protect themselves.
The German Association of Cities and Towns (DSG) is advocating for greater self-reliance in flood protection, according to its president Uwe Brandl (CSU) in a conversation with the "Augsburger Allgemeine." "We need increased community involvement, self-initiative, and willingness to face the issue collectively, as well as individuals taking action on their own," he stated. This entails sacrificing land for flood protection measures, as well as self-funding such projects or refraining from building in flood-prone areas.
Gerda Hasselfeldt, president of the German Red Cross (DRK) and CSU member, echoed similar sentiments in the same publication, urging for increased investment in disaster management. "Germany is behind in this regard," she declared. "Therefore, a shift in perspective is required, particularly with regard to sustainable and future-oriented financing for disaster preparedness."
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The approaching weather disturbance is expected to exacerbate the flood situation in Bavaria, following the critical conditions in Baden-Württemberg. Rescue workers are actively involved in evacuating homes in Abtsgmünd, Ostalbkreis, due to rising floodwaters. The German Meteorological Service has warned of strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall starting this week.
In Regensburg, the water level at the Eisernen Brücke gauge has reached 5.80 meters, and the city has declared a state of emergency. The Danube itself is now experiencing the brunt of the flood, with Passau potentially reaching level four by Monday evening.
Ten thousand rescue workers are participating in the flood efforts in both states, as rivers and streams have overflowed due to non-stop rain. The flood situation in several districts and cities in Bavaria has led to emergency declarations over the weekend.
Two individuals are currently missing: A firefighter in Swabian Offfen and a woman from Schrobenhausen, with the search still ongoing for both. Schools in affected regions have cancelled classes for Monday, with trains facing significant disruptions due to weather damage.
Caution is advised against traveling to the flood-affected regions in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, and overnight accommodations have been set up for stranded travelers. The German Weather Service has lifted existing warnings but expects localized rain showers with substantial rainfall in southern Germany, potentially leading to thunderstorms with heavy rain.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to visit a flood-affected area in Upper Bavaria, while the Municipal League and the German Association of Cities and Towns are advocating for increased community involvement and self-reliance in flood protection. Gerda Hasselfeldt, president of the German Red Cross, has emphasized the need for increased investment in disaster management.
The flood conditions have further restricted Bavaria, following the snow chaos, and have caused severe flooding and disruptions across the Southern regions. The persistent rain has resulted in critically high water levels in many places, with locals and authorities working together to respond to the ongoing challenge.
