Hurricane warning hits Schleswig-Holstein: Storm Joshua is approaching!

Hurricane warning hits Schleswig-Holstein: Storm Joshua is approaching!

October 24, 2025 brings stormy weather to Schleswig-Holstein. The German Weather Service (DWD) warns of violent hurricane gusts, especially on the coasts of the North and Baltic Seas. The warning has been raised to the highest level, level 3 out of 4, and is in effect until 10pm on Friday evening. The effects are devastating and pose potential dangers such as falling branches and flying objects. Spending time outdoors is strongly discouraged, so many northern Germans prefer to retreat to the safety of their four walls.

The special warning applies from Friday 5 a.m. to midnight for all of Schleswig-Holstein, where level 2 squalls are expected. On the Beaufort scale, which measures wind speeds, winds can reach up to 120 km/h. This can cause serious damage and stir up large amounts of water, which is particularly important in coastal regions.

Storm “Joshua” causes chaos

The current storm “Joshua” swept across northern Germany on Friday evening and brought storm surges, especially on the North Sea coast and in the Hamburg area. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) initially warned of storm surges, but this warning was later lifted. In Hamburg, the water level at the fish market rose to over 1.7 meters, so that from a water level of 1.50 meters above average flood water comes over the promenade in St. Pauli. Such extreme weather conditions are not commonplace and cause great unrest among residents and tourists.

The island of Föhr is particularly badly affected, where the harbor was flooded and the ferry “Uthlande” could not leave. The background is the heavy rains and squalls that cause high water levels. Traffic radio also reports cancellations of train connections, for example between Wrist and Altona, due to fallen trees.

Safety measures and caution

The rescue control center in Schleswig-Holstein has already recorded a total of 46 missions, many of them due to fallen trees. In Altona, for example, a loosely hanging advertising poster was safely removed by the fire department. The beach parking spaces in St. Peter-Ording are also closed due to flooding. Cemeteries, parks and zoos remained closed in several cities, including Hildesheim and Hanover. Drivers and road users are urged to be careful, especially in forest areas, and to observe safety measures.

KN Online reports that these disruptions and the associated safety risks pose a major challenge for local residents. The DWD has once again emphasized that many trees are weakened due to the years of drought and are considered an additional risk. The storm will move on to Denmark on Saturday night and reach Sweden on Sunday, but the weather warnings are far from over.

daily news notes that storm surges are normal events in autumn, but climate change poses new challenges for coastal protection. The situation remains tense and many residents are wary of what the next weather will bring. Stay safe and pay attention to current warnings!