Observed rise in intense rainfall occurrences
Germany Braces for More Thunderstorms Amidst Increasing Extreme Weather Events
Germany is bracing for more thunderstorms tonight, as the German Weather Service (DWD) has issued a forecast for the night from Friday to Saturday. According to the DWD, the Alps, the Black Forest, East Saxony, and East Bavaria are among the areas expected to be affected by these storms.
While no major damages have been reported from the rain and thunderstorms experienced on Friday evening, the DWD does not rule out locally severe weather conditions. The DWD forecast suggests that heavy rain of up to 20 liters per square meter in a short time is possible.
The increase in extreme weather events, including heat waves, floods, droughts, and storms, is a growing concern in Germany. According to Sabine Lackner, the President of the Technical Relief Agency (THW), climate change is contributing to this trend.
Sabine Lackner's remarks indicate that the THW, Germany’s federal disaster relief agency, is dealing with more extreme weather-related incidents. The deployment intensity of the THW has increased, both quantitatively and qualitatively, as the agency responds to more frequent and severe floods and storms resulting from extreme precipitation and heat stress.
Last Friday, the nationwide peak value in Germany was measured at 37.1 degrees Celsius in Kitzingen near Würzburg, according to preliminary data. This high temperature underscores the ongoing concern about heat waves in the country.
Sabine Lackner expects the number of extreme rainfall-triggered deployments to continue increasing in the future. She noted a significant increase in heavy rainfall events, which could lead to flash floods and other weather-related emergencies.
The German government has recognized these escalating climate risks and adopted the “German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change” and subsequent action plans to enhance adaptation measures. These measures likely include improving THW's preparedness and operational capacities to manage the growing risks associated with extreme weather events.
Despite these challenges, the THW remains committed to its mission of providing aid in emergencies. Sabine Lackner's comments to the German editorial network (RND) serve as a reminder of the critical role the THW plays in protecting German communities from the impacts of extreme weather events.
[1] German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change - https://www.bmub.bund.de/bmub/en/climate-change/adaptation/german-strategy-for-adaptation-to-climate-change.html [2] Economic Impacts of Climate Change in Germany - https://www.klimaschutzbund.de/de/themen/klima-wirtschaft/klimawandel-wirtschaft-deutschland [3] Droughts in Germany - https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/klima/klima-wanderungen/trockenperioden/trockenperioden.html [4] Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events in Germany - https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/klima/klima-veranderungen/extreme-wetterereignisse
The German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change may include improving the THW's preparedness and operational capacities, as the agency tackles more frequent and severe floods and storms due to extreme precipitation and heat stress. The increase in extreme weather events, such as thunderstorms, heat waves, and flash floods, and their potential links to climate change, are raising concern among scientific and environmental communities.
