Overview
- A fast-moving convective storm struck the Lake Constance area on Friday, producing extreme winds, very large hail and intense lightning across parts of Germany, Switzerland and northern Italy.
- National weather services recorded the event as unusually severe with a Schaffhausen station reporting gusts up to 143 km/h, SRF Meteo counting roughly 46,000 lightning strikes and hail reported locally at 5–6 cm in diameter.
- Emergency services and police said the storm caused injuries in Switzerland (about 40 people hurt in Canton Zürich, many children) and heavy damage in Singen where roughly 190 homes were hit and one building was declared uninhabitable.
- Transport and services remain disrupted as overhead lines, tracks and roads need repair; Deutsche Bahn listed affected regional routes (including Singen–Konstanz) and replacement buses are running while crews work on restorations.
- Officials expect a brief weekend lull but warn that unsettled weather will return early next week with fresh thunderstorms, strong gusts and localized hail that could prolong recovery and damage assessments.