Extreme Weather Strikes South and East Germany: Possible Tornado in Paderborn?
Southwestern and eastern regions of Germany face imminent threat of fierce storms
Brace yourself for some wild weather! A succession of intense thunderstorms hit parts of Germany over the weekend, prompting severe weather warnings in the south and east. Hail and powerful gusts were common, and there were even reports of a possible tornado in Paderborn. Let's dive into the details.
On Sunday afternoon, the German Weather Service (DWD) issued a warning for severe weather in the south and east of the country. The forecast pointed to heavy rain, hail, and strong winds, with hailstones up to three centimeters in diameter and gusts reaching 100 kilometers per hour in some areas.
The Padeborn region experienced particularly rough conditions. Emergency services were kept busy with reports of flash flooding, which caused basements to flood in North Rhine-Westphalia. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, according to a police spokesperson.
The local hospital and a production hall's roof collapsed under the weight of the water, and the elevator service was disrupted due to the influx of water. Between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM on Saturday, the police received over 400 emergency calls.
A Twist in the Tale: Possible Tornado in Paderborn?
The day after the storms, passersby discovered a car submerged in a rain retention pond in the Paderborn district of Benhausen. Firefighters were immediately contacted to deal with the situation, as it was initially unclear if anyone had been trapped inside the vehicle. However, the car's owner later confirmed that they had been stranded the previous day and had abandoned the vehicle.
There were also numerous eyewitness reports of a potential tornado in Altenbeken near Paderborn. Images surfaced showing a funnel cloud beneath a thundercloud. The German Weather Service will be looking into whether this was indeed a tornado in the coming days.
Other incidents were reported throughout the country. In Detmold, Bielefeld, and various other locations, fallen trees, muddy roads, and blocked traffic routes were common occurrences. In Gymnich in the Rhein-Erft district, a house caught fire after being struck by lightning.
It's worth noting that the search results do not confirm a tornado in Paderborn on the specific date mentioned in the text. However, there are records of severe weather conditions, including thunderstorms, hail, and potential tornado investigations in the Paderborn area around June 15, 2025[1][2]. Unfortunately, no explicit confirmation of a tornado is available for the events that transpired around that time.
However, there is a significant storm that hit Paderborn on May 20, 2022, resulting in substantial damage and injuries[5]. Nonetheless, for the recent events around June 15, 2025, no confirmed tornado has been reported. Stay tuned for more updates on the situation!
Sources: ntv.de, hvo/dpa
- Weather
- Possible Tornado
I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I can say for certain that a tornado touched down in Paderborn on June 15, 2025, as there is no explicit confirmation in the provided sources. However, the German Weather Service is investigating possible evidence of a tornado that occurred in Altenbeken near Paderborn around the same time. The weather on that day was extremes with thunderstorms, hail, and potential tornadoes reported in the region.
