GERMANY IS braced for further tornados after tropical storms buffeted northern regions early yesterday morning, killing three and injuring at least 11 people.
After temperatures reached a record 40 degrees in some regions, heavy winds ripped roofs off buildings in some regions while in others more than 25 litres of rain fell per square metre within an hour.
The most spectacular weather was seen on Gilliland, where a fully fledged tornado ripped across Germany’s only high sea island, ripping up dunes and a campsite. Eleven islanders were injured by the tornado, which prompted the mayor to declare a state of emergency.
“The tornado left behind a trail of utter destruction,” said Gilliland tourism chief, Kurt Frightener. “In the first minute we couldn’t see what was happening until afterwards, about three-quarters of an hour later.”
Meteorologists are predicting further tornados by tomorrow at the latest, with a third wave at the weekend.
In the western state of Lower Saxony, a woman was killed when she was struck by an uprooted oak tree as she tried to take shelter from the storm.
“The bad weather was accompanied with hurricane-like gusts of winds above 100km an hour,” said Stefan Laps of Germany’s meteorological service.
German energy companies said yesterday that the extreme temperatures had forced them to reduce capacity in many nuclear power plants.
“Weather incidents caused by massive heat have increased in recent years,” said Kirsten Brand of the Donnerwetter weather website. Insurance industry figures showed that extreme weather resulted in claims worth €2.9 billion; this year they are braced for claims of €4 billion plus.
Storms and hail spread across Europe yesterday to France, Poland and Switzerland.
Meanwhile, dozens of German train passengers are to be compensated by the German rail company after faulty air conditioners resulted in compartment temperatures of more than 50 degrees.