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Storm chaos in Lower Saxony: rail traffic disrupted after thunderstorms!
Strong thunderstorms led to train cancellations in Stendal, Lower Saxony. Rail services restored while severe weather warnings remain in effect.
Storm chaos in Lower Saxony: rail traffic disrupted after thunderstorms!
In the last few days, strong thunderstorms have hit Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The railway lines were particularly affected, recording numerous cancellations and delays. On Friday at 2:20 p.m. the railway line, which was affected by a fallen tree near Stendal (Saxony-Anhalt), was reopened. Only one track was previously accessible, which caused significant disruption. The assessments of NDR bear witness to the effects of the storms on train traffic: both the regional traffic between Wolfsburg and Braunschweig as well as the ICE and IC trains from Hanover and Braunschweig to Berlin suffered from these weather conditions.
In Lehr (Helmstedt district, trains got into difficulties due to fallen branches, and in Vöhrum (Peine district) a fallen tree blocked the tracks, which led to the complete cessation of rail traffic between Hanover and Braunschweig until late in the evening. A bus service was quickly set up here to offer passengers alternative transport. The fire brigade was also heavily deployed: in Lower Saxony, especially around Braunschweig, the emergency services fought against the consequences of the storm.
The weather: A mixed companion
The storm situation in Lower Saxony was not just an issue for travelers; Many citizens also suffered from the consequences. In cities like Peine, Helmstedt and Wolfsburg, basements filled with water while advanced wind gusts snapped branches and uprooted trees. Firefighters in Gifhorn had their hands full when they rescued 43 passengers from a tour boat that was unable to maneuver. But the infrastructure was not spared either: there was some significant damage, such as to a hardware store in Wolfsburg and water damage to the Carl-Friedrich-Gauß-Oberschule in Velpke, where classes were canceled on Thursday.
The warnings about these extreme weather conditions were issued by the German Weather Service. Rainy and stormy days cannot be ruled out in the coming period. Severe Weather Center informed about the current situation with an overview map that showed the affected areas, including the German Bight, East Frisian Islands and the Harz region. The warning structure, which was available all year round, also gave citizens the advance warning they needed: acute warnings only confirmed the arrival of the natural hazard, while advance warnings of possible storms indicated that they were coming.
The situation calms down, but the damage remains
The weather situation calmed down during the night, but the traces of the storm are still clearly visible. Aside from the immediate damage and the cancellation of school lessons, many citizens in the affected regions are still waiting for repairs. WeatherOnline keeps citizens informed of possible future severe weather events and updates warnings to highlight lightning, flooding and storm damage. It remains to be seen how quickly the repair work will progress and whether new weather warnings will put the region on ice again.