Storm Ziros claims fatalities: Berlin in a state of emergency!

Storm Ziros claims fatalities: Berlin in a state of emergency!

Storm “Ziros” caused devastating damage in Berlin and Brandenburg on June 24, 2025. With catastrophic hurricane gusts that reached wind speeds of up to 108 km/h, the storm created intense and dangerous weather conditions. Two people died and several people were seriously injured when trees fell onto the streets and, fortunately, onto cars. “It was a horror night,” is how one resident describes the situation. The fire department had to declare a state of emergency and recorded over 500 operations throughout the city. According to Merkur, the S-Bahn lines remained largely paralyzed until late in the evening, which led to massive disruptions in the transport network.

The fatal incident in Schönwalde (Havelland) was particularly tragic, where several people were seriously injured by falling branches and falling trees. A cyclist was critically injured on Clayallee in Zehlendorf, and there were also reports of tree branches falling and hitting people in the Tegel Forest. These incidents are part of a worrying trend in extreme weather in Germany, as the German Weather Service (DWD) summarized after the storm.

Extreme weather events in focus

In a current study, the DWD points out the increased likelihood that extreme weather events, such as the storms triggered by Ziros, will occur more frequently in the coming years. Within Germany, these changes are well documented due to global warming, which is affecting more and more areas. This is also reflected in a clear increase in heat waves and the decline in severe frosts - a development that is classified as serious in the attribution study presented by DWD.

The storm on June 24th is not the first incident of this kind. People in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate already experienced damaging flood events in 2021. The forecasts for the summer months point to a warmer summer, which - according to the DWD's estimates - will also be associated with new weather phenomena. The south of Germany is facing an increased risk of thunderstorms due to heat stress, among other things.

A look into the future

The development of temperatures in Germany shows a worrying trend. Extreme temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius could lead to the creation of a heat spiral that will profoundly change weather patterns. While the chances of new temperature records increase, there is a clear prospect that such weather extremes will increase not only in the south, but across Germany. This not only benefits the warm weather, but also puts a strain on the overall weather pattern. This is also the reason why the DWD is already forecasting “slightly changeable and windy” with speeds of up to 60 km/h for the north and east of Germany.

The message is clear: Even if we like to sweat in the summer heat, we should prepare for the challenges that arise from climate changes. As the current events surrounding storm “Ziros” show, great attention is being paid to preparing for such extreme weather conditions in order to improve safety measures and minimize the risk to the population.