BDuring a storm in the Austrian state of Carinthia, hailstones, some eight centimeters in size, fell on Wednesday evening, as reported by the police and fire brigade. Elsewhere there were mudslides (landslides). Roads were blocked by mud or rock material, trees were uprooted and houses were covered. There was major damage to property, but according to initial reports no one was injured.
In Kremsbrücke, a car was almost completely buried by a debris flow, the police reported. At Rennweg, police patrols and residents were temporarily stuck between several mudflows. Some uprooted trees blocked the roadways. Roads in the storm area were initially closed. The huge hailstones were reported from the municipality of Lurnfeld in the Drautal.
A 31-year-old foil surfer who got into distress during the storm was rescued from Lake Millstatt. With foil surfing, the surfboard practically hovers above the water surface thanks to a hydrofoil.
Severe weather warning also in Germany
Storms with heavy rain, thunderstorms and hail are also expected in Germany on Thursday. In Central Germany there is also an increased risk of tornadoes, said an expert from the German Weather Service (DWD) of the German Press Agency. A low that will sweep across the country on Thursday and Friday night, combined with hot subtropical air, will cause “a severe thunderstorm situation”.
According to the expert, two focal points can be identified in Germany. On the one hand, thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected in the central and eastern parts of the country. On the other hand, there could be thunderstorm cells and hurricane gusts of up to 120 kilometers per hour in the south and south-west of the republic. According to the DWD expert, hailstones of five to seven centimeters in size are also expected.
Even without exceeding the limit values, Andreas Matzarakis, head of the Center for Medical Meteorological Research of the German Weather Service (DWD), currently sees an “unpleasant weather cocktail” in terms of health. The ozone levels in Germany are often high, even if they are below the warning or alarm levels, Matzarakis told the German Press Agency. “We are seeing the first heat wave across Germany, even if it only lasts two or three days in some areas. And there is a lot of moisture.”
“It is important to cool the interior”
The warm and humid temperatures are particularly stressful for the elderly and people with previous illnesses and are perceived as uncomfortable, said the expert. Even without the so-called tropical nights, when the thermometer does not drop below 20 degrees, sleeping in heated interiors can be problematic. “It’s important to keep the interiors cool, to keep the sun out,” Matzarakis said. Darkening the apartment and airing it out in the cooler hours can help. Even jogging before going to bed is currently not recommended. Instead, cooling is good, such as “showering lukewarm and not too long”.
In the coming night, the risk of severe weather will decrease and the thunderstorms will move away, the expert said. So on Friday there will only be isolated thunderstorms and otherwise it will be mostly dry.
According to the DWD forecast, the maximum values should rise to up to 35 degrees in the southeast on Thursday, and temperatures of around 24 degrees will be reached in the west. Only on the coasts it stays a little cooler.
