Storm alert! Strong thunderstorms and heavy rain over Baden-Württemberg!

Storm alert! Strong thunderstorms and heavy rain over Baden-Württemberg!

On May 31, 2025, the German Weather Service (DWD) expects strong thunderstorms from midday onwards, which will particularly affect western and central Germany. The first warning, issued at 10:41 a.m., noted the increasing threat of severe weather. Particular caution is required in the affected federal states, which include North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Hesse and the north of Baden-Württemberg. [Voice] reports that the thunderstorms can be accompanied by heavy rain, hail and severe squalls.

The DWD's advance information regarding possible storms also refers to the city and rural districts of Heilbronn and Hohenlohekreis. Heavy rainfall of up to 40 liters per square meter is expected within an hour, although small-grain hail with grain sizes of up to 3 cm cannot be ruled out. The meteorological conditions mean that thunderstorms are initially expected in the Black Forest and the Swabian Alb, before they affect large parts of the north of Baden-Württemberg from the early evening. [DWD] also emphasizes that strong thunderstorms will occur again in the west and north on Sunday night.

Details about the storm situation

The signs of the impending storm are worrying: forces of very different intensity can bring heavy rainfall of 30 to 40 liters per square meter, while gusts of around 100 km/h cannot be ruled out. This weather situation is the result of a warm and moist air current that has flowed over Germany in the last few days. The formation of thunderstorms will be particularly pronounced from the afternoon and into the evening hours, with a shift of the storms eastwards towards Bavaria in the evening. [DWD] emphasizes that the forecasts for the exact extent of the thunderstorm cells contain uncertainties.

There were already floods in the region before this warning period: On May 28th, violent thunderstorms led to flooding in Neudenau and Neuenstadt, where the fire brigade was busy cleaning flooded streets. The severe weather warnings can be viewed on the [Severe Weather Center] website, where current information on possible weather conditions, from storms to planned heavy rain events to possible periods of black ice, is also available.

Outlook and warning levels

An accompanying uncertainty in the intensity of the thunderstorms is to be expected in the coming hours. The [Severe Weather Center] informs that two types of severe weather warnings are issued: advance warnings, which are announced up to 48 hours in advance, and acute warnings, which confirm the actual occurrence of a natural hazard. In order to provide citizens with guidance, a distinction is made between three different warning levels: orange for moderate storms, red for severe storms and purple for extreme storms.

The population is encouraged to regularly inform themselves about the current weather warnings and to take precautionary measures. The next update of the weather warning will take place no later than Saturday evening at 9:00 p.m. It remains questionable how the situation will develop, but the DWD and other meteorological services are ready to continuously update and provide the news.