Berlin Vortex
Following the weather turmoil, Berlin's rail transport resumes normal operations.
Berlin, Germany (dpa) - After the fierce storm in Berlin and surrounding areas, claiming at least one life and causing chaos, the city is back to relative normalcy. The storm's aftermath saw the suspension of S-Bahn services in the capital for hours on Monday, with fallen trees blocking numerous routes during the peak hours. The initial S-Bahn trains resumed their operations only in the evening.
Regional and long-distance trains were also affected, with occasional interruptions and delays in S-Bahn service reported, according to a spokesperson. The German Weather Service (DWD) had warned of strong winds on Sunday, and their warnings proved accurate.
Storm's Violence
The DWD announced that the highest wind speed recorded on Monday was 108 kilometers per hour at the Free University of Berlin, equivalent to wind force 11 and hurricane-force gusts. Such wind speeds were also noted in Berlin-Tempelhof during the episode. Trees were uprooted, and branches were sent flying onto streets and paths. According to the DWD, wind speeds between 80 to 100 kilometers per hour were a possibility, and hurricane-force gusts up to 105 km/h were within the realm of possibility. The DWD's situation report is available within their warning weather app.
Berlin's Interior Senator, Iris Spranger, expressed concerns, including questioning the accuracy of the DWD's wind predictions. "On Monday, the roads of Berlin were crowded while the city was under a state of emergency," Spranger stated after the most recent Senate meeting, "I'd like to know if this was an oversight by the German Weather Service?"
Fatalities and Injuries
A 55-year-old woman lost her life when a falling tree struck her car in the Spandauer Forest, according to the police report. A 59-year-old cyclist was also hit by a falling tree in Clayallee, Dahlem, and a person required rescue from the Tegeler Forest due to fallen branches. In Spandau, a 30-year-old female sustained injuries caused by a falling branch. Other minor injuries have been reported from nearby regions.
The fire department in Brandenburg initially reported another fatal car incident in the Havelland region but later recanted their statement. They uncovered that the fatality in Berlin was actually part of the same incident, which occurred just half a kilometer inside the city limits, as confirmed by the Berlin police.
Storm's Destruction
The streets of Berlin were strewn with leaves and smaller branches, with entire trees uprooted in some places. Small floods were reported across the city. According to a spokesperson for the Berlin Fire Department, the city sustained extensive damage from the storm. Approximately 600 weather-related incidents were reported.
In Potsdam, emergency services were required to clear numerous streets and paths of branches and trees, with the storm causing most of the incidents. "While the storm was intense," said the spokesperson, "it was manageable." No severe injuries or fatalities occurred in Brandenburg due to the storm.
According to figures from the ALDIS/BLIDS information service, the storm made Monday the most lightning-struck day of the year so far in Brandenburg, with 664 ground strikes recorded. Cloud-to-cloud lightning did not get counted, and multiple discharges within a single lightning strike were treated as one. Berlin saw 13 ground strikes, the second-highest count of the year to date.
Post-Storm Consequences
Strolling or cycling in Berlin's forests can still be hazardous after the storm, with branches falling or trees collapsing. The cleaning and securing work of the four Berlin forestry offices are ongoing. The Senate Department for the Environment advises taking the main paths and avoiding the use of headphones.
The cemetery in Berlin-Mahlsdorf and Schlosspark Biesdorf have been temporarily closed for safety reasons. The increased risk of falling crown parts and broken branches has necessitated the closures.
Weather Ahead
The wind will continue blowing powerfully through Berlin and Brandenburg on Tuesday, but it will not reach the intensity of the storm. Wind gusts of up to 60 kilometers per hour may occur. The sky will remain cloudy, with occasional rain, but temperatures will remain pleasant, with highs between 20 and 25 degrees.
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- The German Weather Service (DWD) had warned of strong winds on Sunday, and their warnings were crucial as the highest wind speed recorded during the storm was 108 kilometers per hour, equivalent to wind force 11 and hurricane-force gusts.
- The aftermath of the storm saw the suspension of S-Bahn services in Berlin for hours and numerous tree-related incidents, but the weather ahead on Tuesday will only have wind gusts of up to 60 kilometers per hour, with occasional rain and pleasant temperatures.
