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Storm 'Joshua' Batters Germany as Coastal Flooding Hits North Sea Towns

Authorities prioritized coastal safety with a forecast storm tide on the North Sea and Elbe.

Overview

  • DWD issued high-level warnings, including red alerts for parts of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, with gusts up to 120–130 km/h expected at the coast.
  • BSH projected water levels 2.0–2.5 meters above mean high water on the North Frisian coast and 1.5–2.0 meters on the Elbe, with Hamburg’s Fischmarkt expected to flood Friday evening.
  • Flooding overtopped promenades in Wilhelmshaven, and reports cited inundation at the Föhr harbor and the Dagebüll ferry pier, while numerous island ferries were canceled or rescheduled.
  • Rail services saw isolated disruptions from fallen trees, a cruise liner returned to Hamburg a day early, and operators urged travelers to check connections and limit travel to essential trips.
  • Emergency crews handled widespread property damage with few injuries reported, including a driver hurt by a fallen tree near Kaiserslautern, and DWD said the system did not meet “bomb cyclone” criteria.