The German Weather Service (DWD) has expanded its warnings concerning heavy thunderstorms across southern and central Germany. The affected areas now extend beyond parts of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg to include North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Thuringia, and Lower Saxony, the DWD announced on Sunday. Conversely, the warning for Saxony has been lifted.
These severe weather events carry the risk of flooding in basements and on roads, as well as damage caused by hailstones to buildings, vehicles, and agricultural crops. Local lightning strikes could also occur. The current warnings are initially valid until Sunday at 9:00 PM, though the service noted that an extension or further expansion into additional areas remains possible.
The underlying cause of this weather pattern is the spread of humid, warm air, which is prone to thunderstorms, throughout most of Germany. Meanwhile, drier air masses are maintaining their influence between the North Sea and the Oder River.
