Storm and heavy rain: Lower Saxony is preparing for storms!

Storm and heavy rain: Lower Saxony is preparing for storms!

Stormy weather is keeping Lower Saxony under control and autumn is showing its most uncomfortable side. High pressure areas are retreating, and the forecasts of weather expert Dominik Jung do not bode well: heavy rain is expected in the coming days. Up to 80 liters per square meter are expected for Lower Saxony, while the Erzgebirge could even receive up to 100 liters of rain news38 reported.

Already on Thursday, October 23rd, there were gusts of up to 80 km/h and the risk of a storm surge is noticeable on the coasts. Even if the weather conditions are expected to ease by the beginning of November, it should be noted that November could be wetter than average overall. This means that we can expect windy and rainy weather with temperatures between 14 and 18 degrees. Cold nights could even bring the first snow in the low mountain ranges.

Warning of heavy rain

The current severe weather warnings should be taken seriously. Heavy rain can not only lead to flooding of streets and basements, but can also result in flash floods, landslides and landslides. Since November 2024, the federal government's new geoportal has offered an interactive information map for heavy rain risks in Lower Saxony, which provides address-specific information. This shows potential flood areas for various rain events. “The use of warning apps such as NINA or the applications of the German Weather Service is essential,” say the experts. The south, particularly the train station district in Oldenburg, is highlighted as being at high risk Niedersachsen.de reported.

For municipalities, “municipal heavy rain prevention” is seen as an important instrument for developing measures to avert danger. Environment Minister Christian Meyer makes it clear: “We have to prepare for increasing extreme weather conditions,” which is why the guidelines for heavy rain prevention in Lower Saxony were published in 2024. Ultimately, cities and municipalities are required to prepare for these challenges and apply for grants for effective prevention measures.

Climate change as the cause

What does all this have to do with climate change? An exciting study from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows that the increase in extreme weather events is not a coincidence. The Earth's surface temperature is rising faster than ever in the last 2,000 years, and humans have contributed significantly to this. Heavy rain may not only occur more frequently in the future, but also more intensely. This could affect coastal flooding, which once occurred once every 100 years and could become an annual reality in the future, according to the report WWF.

Germans must not only concentrate on acute measures to avert danger, but also think about the long-term consequences of climate change. Ecological solutions could help improve flood protection. Reclamation of natural floodplains and water restoration are promising approaches. In this respect, there are enough reasons to take the weather seriously and to be well prepared when the next autumn storms sweep across Lower Saxony.