Overview
- Powerful convective storms moved across large parts of Germany on Wednesday night, producing intense wind, hail and heavy rain that prompted hundreds of emergency calls and local evacuations.
- The Deutscher Wetterdienst confirmed a tornado struck Fürstenwalde in Brandenburg, a finding supported by video evidence and the European Severe Weather Database and initially assessed at about IF1 intensity.
- Authorities confirmed at least one fatality in Rheinland-Pfalz when a tree fell on two women, one of whom died, and reports list multiple injuries including a firefighter seriously hurt by an electric shock.
- The storms caused widespread property and infrastructure damage, with fire services reporting roughly 60 houses affected in Wetzlar, numerous roofs and facades torn off, flooded basements, gas leaks and power outages.
- Emergency and recovery operations continue while the DWD keeps issuing thunderstorm and heavy-rain warnings, officials conduct on-site damage surveys to verify impacts and residents are urged to follow official alerts such as the NINA app.