People should not go outside if possible, avoid parks and forests, according to the German Weather Service.
(Photo: IMAGO/ANP)
Amsterdam, Hamburg The storm “Poly” hit the Netherlands and northern Germany on Wednesday. A man was fatally injured in Emsland. An uprooted tree fell on the pedestrian in Rhede and buried him under it, the police said. The man who was walking his dog died at the scene of the accident. Police and fire brigade are on site.
The German Weather Service (DWD) warns of storm and hurricane gusts in northern Emsland and East Friesland up to the Jade Bay. Gusts of up to 130 kilometers per hour are expected in the region by Wednesday evening. “The closer you are to the coast, the more dangerous it is,” said a DWD spokesman. But also inland, the wind is said to sweep over Bremen and Lower Saxony at more than 100 kilometers per hour.
According to the DWD, people should not go outside if possible, avoid parks and forests. It is important to keep your distance from buildings, trees, scaffolding and high-voltage power lines.
Air and rail traffic in the Netherlands was severely affected by the storm. Around 300 flights have been canceled at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, one of the most important hubs in Europe, the ANP news agency reported.
The railway operator NS stopped all train traffic in the north of the Netherlands. The weather service issued the highest warning level for large parts of the country. Deutsche Bahn discontinued several long-distance connections to the Netherlands. Accordingly, ICE trains between Frankfurt and Amsterdam via Cologne are currently canceled, the group said. Intercity trains between Berlin and Amsterdam via Hanover are also affected and currently only run between Berlin and Bad Bentheim. No other restrictions were initially announced.
School failure in parts of Lower Saxony
Germany was also preparing for “Poly”. In Lower Saxony, lessons were canceled due to possible storms. In Delmenhorst, classes at general and vocational schools have been canceled since 10 a.m., as a spokesman for the traffic management center confirmed. In the city of Oldenburg, from 10 a.m., there should also be no more classes at general and vocational schools that are sponsored by the city.
The first summer storm of the year caused a lot of disruption in the Netherlands.
(Photo: IMAGO/ANP)
In Hamburg, the Ohlsdorf, Öjendorf, Volksdorf and Wohldorf cemeteries were closed from 12 p.m. due to the storm and hurricane warnings. According to the cemetery administration, all funeral services have been cancelled.
According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the low will bring a lot of rain and gusts of wind to Germany over the course of the day. The rain area therefore moves from west to east and south-east. Heavy thunderstorms with heavy rain are also possible, as the DWD announced in Offenbach on Tuesday. In addition, there is increasing wind, in the east and the northern low mountain ranges heavy gusts of wind must be expected. Hurricane gusts are also possible.
Weather service warns of hurricane gusts
The DWD warned that in the north and north-west, obstructions on roads and rails due to falling trees or breaking branches are likely. This also applies in view of the considerable damage to the trees in some areas due to the drought, explained DWD meteorologist Sabine Krüger. According to the forecast, the maximum temperatures this Wednesday will be 18 to 22 degrees in the north and west, otherwise 22 to 26 degrees.
Thursday will be cloudy, south of the Danube there are still thunderstorms, as the DWD announced. Otherwise the weather calms down. With a maximum of 20 to 28 degrees it will be warmer. For Friday, the meteorologists predict cumulus clouds and showers in the southeast, otherwise it will remain sunny and dry with maximum temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees.
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