Germany is facing severe autumn weather as storm system “Joshua” sweeps across the country with heavy rain, powerful gusts and a sudden drop in temperatures.
Meteorologists from the German Weather Service (DWD) reported wind speeds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph) along the North Sea coast early Friday. Coastal towns such as Wilhelmshaven have already experienced flooding, with promenades and harbour areas submerged overnight.
According to forecasters, the storm system remains nearly stationary over the North Sea, moving only slowly eastward. On Thursday evening, its strongest winds were recorded south of the Ruhr region, before spreading across much of western and northern Germany.
Travel disruptions across the country
Strong winds have caused numerous incidents on both railways and highways.
In Saarland, a fallen tree struck a regional train during the night. None of the 11 passengers on board were injured, according to federal police. The line was cleared after an hour once firefighters removed the debris.
Further south, another tree collapsed onto the railway line between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart, causing temporary delays. The German Rail (Deutsche Bahn) advised travellers to check schedules before departure, as ongoing weather conditions may cause additional disruptions.
Trees block highways and damage vehicles
In Lower Saxony, a tree fell across the A28 motorway, temporarily blocking both lanes. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the road was reopened shortly after cleanup operations.
A particularly dramatic incident occurred in Düsseldorf, where a 50-metre-tall tree was uprooted by strong gusts and crashed onto nine parked cars. The impact also shattered three windows of a nearby apartment building, fire officials said. Miraculously, no one was injured.
The fire department warned residents to avoid parks and wooded areas until the storm passes, as soil remains saturated and additional trees could topple.
Cruise ship forced to return early to Hamburg
The severe weather has also affected maritime traffic. The cruise ship “Aidaperla”, operated by AIDA Cruises, returned to Hamburg one day ahead of schedule due to the worsening conditions at sea.
Originally expected Saturday, the vessel docked Friday morning after battling rough waves in the North Sea.
Forecast: More wind and rain through the weekend
Forecasters expect the storm to continue over northern and central Germany into the weekend, bringing further rain, gusts up to 110 km/h, and isolated thunderstorms.
Residents are advised to secure outdoor objects, avoid coastal promenades, and check local alerts from the DWD.
Temperatures are expected to drop to single digits Celsius, marking the first true cold spell of the autumn season.
