The German Weather Service (DWD) provides information about weather conditions and also issues official severe weather warnings in an emergency. These are broken down into four categories:
Level 1 (yellow): Thunderstorm: electrical discharge, also in connection with wind gusts from 50 km/h.
Stage 2 (orange): Heavy thunderstorms: in connection with gusts of wind, severe gusts of wind up to 104 km/h, heavy rain or hail
Stage 3 (red): Severe thunderstorms: with hailstorms, heavy rain or hurricane (like) gusts up to 119 km/h, possibly tornado danger (red)
Level 4 (dark red): Extreme thunderstorm: with hailstorms, extremely heavy rain or extreme hurricane (like) gusts from 120 km/h, possible tornado risk.
Purple: Heat warning / Pink: UV warning / Green: No warning / Shaded: Advance warning
Northern and eastern Bavaria affected
Trees could be uprooted and roofs damaged, according to the DWD. Cellars and streets may be flooded. Windows and doors should be closed and people should stay indoors as much as possible.
On Thursday evening, the DWD had already spoken of an “increased potential for dangerous weather conditions”. This continued to apply on Friday to the administrative districts of Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate, Upper Franconia and parts of Lower and Middle Franconia.
Heavy showers on Saturday, dry again on Sunday
Heavy showers and thunderstorms could last until the first half of the night on Saturday. On Saturday it will become cloudier, the warm, humid air and low air currents will favor thunderstorms and heavy rain. But there shouldn’t be any flooding. “As things stand today, this is not comparable to the sometimes heavy heavy rains of last week,” explained DWD meteorologist Guido Wolz.
According to the DWD, it will then gradually become drier on Sunday. Thunderstorms are still possible, especially in the direction of the Alps, showers in the north are not excluded.