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F3 Tornado Confirmed in Central Hesse, Widespread Local Damage Reported

Meteorologists say the storm produced multiple tornadoes and recovery teams warn that full damage and insurance assessments will take weeks.

Overview

  • Meteorological investigators and the Tornado Research Project (WTINFO) say the storm that moved across western and central Germany on Wednesday night into Thursday produced several tornadoes, including a strong F3 tornado over Schlitz/Ützhausen.
  • The German weather service (DWD) confirmed a tornado swept through the Großraum Wetzlar area, with about 60 houses damaged in the Münchholzhausen neighborhood.
  • Solms borough officials say at least a dozen homes were hit, three were severely damaged, several residents are in temporary accommodation, and the mayor estimates local losses in the millions of euros.
  • A separate DWD-confirmed tornado in Fürstenwalde, Brandenburg, killed at least one person and injured others after a falling tree struck people and buildings.
  • Authorities caution that cleaning up, distinguishing tornado damage from broader storm impacts, and final insurance tallies will take weeks; the DWD notes German tornadoes are hard to predict and official records likely undercount real events.