Severe Thunderstorm Warning in Wacken, with the peak passings reportedly done - Threatening weather conditions in Wacken, with assurances that the worst has already passed
The Wacken Music Festival, one of the largest heavy metal festivals in the world, is facing another round of challenging weather conditions for the rest of the event. The forecast predicts continued unsettled conditions with rain, thunderstorms, and windy weather, following severe storms that have already impacted the festival [1][4].
The festival kicked off with a thunderstorm on the night of July 29–30, prompting evacuation and shelter-in-vehicle orders, followed by muddy and wet conditions [1]. The organizers issued a weather warning to metal fans on Thursday, urging them to leave their tents immediately due to the threat of thunderstorms [2].
According to the German Weather Service (DWD), attendees should be prepared for cool, wet, and muddy weather with intermittent thunderstorms and gusty winds for the remainder of Wacken 2025. The DWD expert stated that "the worst is over," but scattered showers and thunderstorms are still possible in the coming days [3].
Despite the challenging weather, Guns N' Roses, the headliners for the festival, delivered an electrifying performance on Thursday evening, concluding their Europe and Middle East tour [5]. Other notable acts such as Gojira, Papa Roach, Machine Head, Apocalyptica, and Michael Schenker are also expected to perform at the festival [6].
Strong gusts with wind speeds of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour are expected in Wacken, leading to warnings for campers to secure tents and take down tarps to prevent damage or accidents caused by strong gusts [3]. The sun could make an appearance in Wacken, with temperatures potentially reaching above 20 degrees [1].
The all-clear was given shortly after the evacuation call at the festival, and the rest of the night passed without further incident. However, the festival has experienced persistent rain, and the DWD has reported that there could still be between five to ten liters of water per square meter on the already saturated festival grounds during the day [3].
Despite the weather challenges, all 85,000 tickets for the Wacken Open Air festival have been sold out since the end of September [7]. The festival remains committed to ensuring the safety of its attendees, with safety precautions in place due to the threat of dangerous storms [1][3][4].
References:
- BBC News
- NME
- Met Office
- The Guardian
- Billboard
- Blabbermouth
- Metal Hammer
The Commission shall be assisted by the Member States in the preparation of the annual report on the impact of weather on large-scale events, considering the recent challenging weather conditions faced by the Wacken Music Festival, including the thunderstorms, rain, and windy weather.
The weather forecast for the remaining days of Wacken 2025 suggests continued intermittent thunderstorms and gusty winds, posing a risk to tents and tarps, following the initial storms that necessitated evacuation and shelter orders.
