Storm chaos in Greifswald: Tornado leaves serious damage!

Storm chaos in Greifswald: Tornado leaves serious damage!

Today in Greifswald is marked by dramatic circumstances. A tornado struck the western city center and adjacent areas near the Baltic Sea, causing immense damage. With wind speeds of up to 120 km/h, the storm transformed the city landscape into a picture of chaos. According to reports from Northern Courier Numerous cracks were discovered in trees, which now poses a potential threat to residents.

The numbers speak for themselves: branches broke from the treetops and some trampolines were thrown over 200 meters through the city. Cars have also been hit by falling branches and there has been significant damage to trees, particularly on the embankment. Langen Straße and Karl-Marx-Platz were particularly affected, where the building yard's arborists made numerous safety cuts to ensure traffic safety.

Extensive damage to the urban forest

The storm, which also bears the name Nadia, left its mark not only in the city center. The city forester Bent Knoll reports that no forest area in Greifswald remained untouched. The damage is massive: trees were knocked down, hanging in other trees or even torn loose. In addition, in a press release from greifswald.de mentions that the damage far exceeds the annual fellings and that reforestation of numerous areas of forest is unavoidable.

The ongoing cleanup could take months. In this context, the number of 67 missions by the fire brigade and the Technical Relief Agency (THW) is particularly alarming. These operations focused primarily on securing fallen trees and loose components that had fallen from roofs. Streets such as Stralsunder Straße and Koitenhäger Landstraße had to be closed for hours to ensure the safety of road users.

Long-term challenges posed by climate change

Given the storm damage, the question also arises about the long-term effects of climate change on storm frequency. A report from waldwissen.net shows that the last 20 years have brought extreme damage to German forests. Forecasts are mixed, and while there is no clear evidence of an increase in storms, a regional northward shift of winter storms could endanger northern Germany in particular.

The city administration of Greifswald has already commissioned an external expert to examine the damage to a heavy lime tree on the wall. The tree has suffered stress cracks in the trunk area above and its stability could be at risk due to root problems. The city's goal remains to preserve the tree if possible, for which precautionary shortening was carried out.

The current situation is a striking example of the unpredictability of nature and the challenges arising from climate change. In times like these, it is important to be prepared and take precautions to minimize future damage and ensure the safety of all citizens.