Storm Joshua is raging on the North Sea: hurricane gusts and floods!

Storm Joshua is raging on the North Sea: hurricane gusts and floods!

A violent storm called “Joshua” has northern Germany firmly in its grip today. The situation is particularly worrying on the North Sea coast and on the islands. Loud NDR The first floods occurred during the night, and a tree fall on the A28 caused a complete closure, which luckily resulted in no injuries.

The weather experts warn of hurricane gusts with speeds of up to 120 km/h. “Joshua”, who according to the DWD does not seem to be moving, will stay with us until Sunday and then move on to Sweden. An official severe weather warning applies in the evening for the North Sea coast as well as the East Frisian and North Frisian Islands, with stronger winds and heavy rainfall until the beginning of the week.

Damage and disruption to traffic

The effects of the storm are already noticeable: parts of the waterfront and a parking lot in Wilhelmshaven were flooded. In addition, numerous ferry connections were canceled, such as the connection from Büsum to Heligoland and the Halunder Jet from Hamburg NWZonline reported. Deutsche Bahn is also already struggling with disruptions, particularly on the busy Hanover-Kassel-Frankfurt route. Travelers are advised to find out about possible changed connections before traveling.

Residents in the affected areas are urged to exercise caution. A tree fell on a house in Cloppenburg; The fire department decided to leave the tree on the roof for the time being. The ADAC also warns against entering forest areas or driving in strong winds.

Storm surges on the North Sea and in Hamburg are also on the way: The Federal Hydraulic Engineering Authority (BSH) expects the water level in Hamburg to rise by up to two meters above mean high water, while low water is forecast on the Baltic Sea. The BSH explains that storm surges are normal in autumn these days, but the challenges posed by climate change are making the situation more precarious.

Climate change and weather extremes

The connections between climate change and extreme weather events like the ones we are currently experiencing cannot be overlooked. According to the Welthungerhilfe Extreme weather events now account for 80 percent of all disasters worldwide. Storms, droughts and heavy rain all have a direct impact on efforts to combat global hunger, which affects an estimated 673 million people.

In view of these developments, the current warnings and precautions in northern Germany are urgent. The next period will bring some challenges for the region, and we should all be prepared to face the capricious weather of “Joshua” with caution.