Hurricane Joshua” rages over Germany: there is a risk of storm damage and storm surge!

Hurricane Joshua” rages over Germany: there is a risk of storm damage and storm surge!

This week, hurricane “Joshua” hit Germany in a storm, and the weather situation is anything but calming. Wind speeds of up to 160 km/h were measured on the Feldberg in the Black Forest, while hurricane-force gusts of 115 km/h were recorded on the Brocken. The storm is moving from the west towards the north and will hit particularly hard on the night of Friday, October 24th. The first damage has already been recorded in North Rhine-Westphalia and other western federal states, where fallen trees and closed roads caused chaos. Merkur reports significant dangers from thunderstorms that could bring heavy rain and even cause tornadoes.

The situation is particularly critical on the North Sea coast and in Hamburg. A storm surge warning has been issued, with river levels potentially rising to 2.5 meters in some areas. In Hamburg, a peak is expected around 7 p.m., which could be above mean high water. Foreshadowing of this storm surge could already be felt on Thursday evening in cities like Wilhelmshaven, where high waves and floods caused trouble. Here too, meteorologists warn that storm “Joshua” will bring “explosive weather conditions”. [RND]. could increase to up to 120 km/h.

Storm consequences and traffic restrictions

In addition to the threat of flooding, the storm is also causing massive restrictions on rail and road traffic. Trees fell on tracks, causing delays and cancellations in rail traffic. There were numerous fire brigade operations due to fallen trees, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia. In Düsseldorf, a 50 meter high tree fell onto the street and damaged cars and windows of a residential building, luckily there were no injuries. Weather Hazards emphasizes that the storm is significantly affecting the nationwide traffic situation and advises against non-urgent journeys.

The weather forecasts are anything but optimistic: Even after the storm subsides on Friday evening, the danger of falling branches, fallen trees and falling roof tiles remains. A further increase in wind speeds and further precipitation are expected in the coming days. On exposed mountains in the North Sea, even hurricane gusts of up to 105 km/h cannot be ruled out.

Outlook and recommendations

It looks like Germany is in the middle of an unpleasant weather period, which is characterized by the influence of subpolar air masses. The forecasts indicate that such autumn storms could become more frequent and more intense in the future. The public is strongly warned to take precautions and seek safety, particularly in coastal areas at risk of storm surges.