Hurricane Detlef Causes Chaos Across Germany

The autumn season has been anything but golden as Hurricane Detlef wreaks havoc across various regions of Germany with heavy rain, fog, and powerful winds. From the Harz mountains to the Black Forest, strong winds have been reported, with the German Weather Service (DWD) warning of gusts reaching up to 110 km/h in some areas.

In the Harz region, hikers on the Brocken mountain should prepare for severe gusts as conditions are expected to worsen into the night. Emergency services have been busy responding to numerous incidents caused by the storm, including fallen trees obstructing roads in Ludwigsburg.

The northern states, including Lower Saxony, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, have been particularly affected, with stormy weather prompting alerts. On the North Sea islands, wind speeds have reached 110 km/h, while parts of the Baltic Sea have recorded gusts of up to 90 km/h.

Authorities from the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency have issued warnings for high water levels, predicting a surge of two meters above normal in Hamburg later today. This situation poses a significant risk of flooding in low-lying areas, including the famous fish market.

On Norderney, a camping site has been completely inundated, submerging around 80 mobile homes and caravans with water reaching the door handles. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries. Precautionary measures have led to the evacuation of several campsites and beach areas along the coast, while ferry services have faced significant disruptions.

In Bremerhaven, the cruise ship Artania, carrying over 1,000 passengers, was unable to depart for Amsterdam due to safety concerns, delaying the planned voyage until conditions improve.

In Baden-Württemberg, the storm has also caused serious incidents, with two individuals suffering severe injuries when a falling tree struck their minibus in Dachsberg. The area has experienced extensive damage, including uprooted trees and broken branches across the Hochrhein, Oberrhein, and Black Forest regions.

In Bavaria, the storm brought a mix of weather, including the first snowfall in the alpine regions above 1,500 meters, while the Erzgebirge region faced windy and rainy conditions.

In the capital, Berlin, the DWD forecasts gusts of up to 70 km/h, with rain expected to arrive in the afternoon. As the storm continues to impact various regions, the nation braces for a challenging start to the week ahead.