Storm chaos in Germany: flash floods and lightning damage everywhere!

Storm chaos in Germany: flash floods and lightning damage everywhere!

On June 18, 2025, dark clouds will appear over Germany, which will not only determine the mood, but also the weather. Violent storms with heavy rain, hail and lightning strikes have caused excitement in many regions, including Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Especially in the Weimar region, residents are currently having to cope with massive rainfall, with up to 30 centimeters of rain falling on streets and gardens. Firefighters and rescue workers were in constant use to empty flooded cellars and clear contaminated streets. The HNA reports on a particularly dramatic operation after a lightning strike that led to a fire on a horse farm in Keltern.

In Thuringia, the authorities reported hours of rain, which resulted in the town of Gerthausen being under up to 50 centimeters of water. These extreme weather conditions not only led to extensive property damage, but also to significant traffic restrictions. The train routes between Bremen and Hamburg were temporarily closed and long-distance trains were rerouted via Hanover. There were also delays on the railway lines in Bavaria because a signal box was damaged. It also rained heavily between Herbertingen and Aulendorf in Baden-Württemberg, which led to disruptions in train traffic, as the Tagesschau reports.

Crisis teams and storm warnings

The emergency services are active around the clock. A crisis team was even formed in Bebra to better manage the situation. Fire and rescue services were quite busy here, while more than 80 operations were reported following storms in North Rhine-Westphalia. The weather remains tense because, according to the German Weather Service (DWD), further thunderstorms are expected next weekend. The situation is particularly difficult for hikers in the Alps, where dangerous weather conditions prevail.

Even in the Ore Mountains the damage is extensive. The HNA reports a supercell that brought torrential rain and large-grain hail over many areas. Floods and flooded streets are a feature of the region, which was hit by severe thunderstorms during the night.

Agriculture in danger

The impact of this extreme rainfall is also serious for agriculture. The Weather Hazards report that heat stress in poultry in particular is increasing. The agricultural meteorology department warns that the total heat content of the air could become critical. A change in the weather, which could now occur in the coming days, will result in hard frosts in the ground, which could affect crops. It is crucial for farmers to quickly adapt to changing weather conditions to avoid yield losses.

Overall, the experts are predicting unstable weather conditions. As temperatures fall, heavy rain events could occur again in the affected regions between the coming days and the weekend. Anyone traveling during this time should definitely pay attention to weather warnings and follow the advice of the authorities.