Germany Rain without end: neighboring countries prepare for floods

Germany's eastern neighbors are bracing themselves for the threat of flooding in the coming days. Persistent rain on Friday led to growing concerns in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic that rivers could burst their banks. "We are preparing for the worst-case scenarios," said the Czech head of government Petr Fiala in the capital Prague. Some rivers are expected to experience floods as severe as those that statistically only occur once a century. The situation could also worsen in Germany.

Preparations in Poland

In Poland, Deputy Interior Minister Wieslaw Lesniakiewicz called on people to take precautions against possible flooding. People living near rivers on the first floor should prepare for flooding, he told the radio station Rmf.fm. Garages should be cleared and cars parked in a safe place. "There may also be situations where there is temporarily no drinking water or no electricity."

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Institute issued a flood warning for the voivodeships of Lower Silesia, Opole, Silesia and Lesser Poland. Up to 150 liters of water per square meter could fall there, it said in a statement. The army and all uniformed services are on standby, wrote Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz on Platform X. Boats, amphibious vehicles and heavy equipment are prepared.

Crisis team convened in the Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, the government convened a crisis team on Friday in view of the heavy rainfall. The outflow from the dams on the Vltava had been "rapidly increased", Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny announced on X. On Friday, more than 300 cubic meters per second were discharged. This is intended to keep the capacities in the reservoirs free for the masses of water expected later. Protective walls were to be erected in the historic city center of Prague. A body was recovered from the Vltava - according to the police, it is still unclear why the man died.

Meanwhile, the Czech weather service extended its warning of heavy to extreme rainfall for the weekend to most of the country. The situation could become particularly critical in the east of the Czech Republic. According to forecasts, up to 400 liters of precipitation per square meter could fall in Jesenik in the Jeseníky Mountains up to and including Sunday. The football league matches at the weekend have already been canceled.

Rail travelers in Austria should refrain from traveling

The authorities are expecting a so-called flood of the century on the border river March. The Slovakian capital Bratislava is located directly at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers in the border triangle with Hungary and Austria. The country's authorities want to flood specific areas in order to prevent flooding in Bratislava. In Austria, the railroad issued a travel warning due to expected heavy rainfall and storms. All passengers were asked to postpone non-urgent train journeys between Friday and Sunday, according to the Austrian Federal Railways.

The railroad line between Bad Hofgastein and Bad Gastein in Salzburger Land was already closed on Friday night due to heavy snowfall. Several roads in Austria were blocked due to fallen trees or broken down vehicles. Other routes, such as the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, were closed for safety reasons. Snow chains were compulsory in some areas.

Continuous rain in the Alps and eastern low mountain ranges

For Germany, the German Weather Service predicted heavy continuous rain in the Alps and in the eastern low mountain ranges. This would apply in some areas in the south-east until Monday. Above 1,500 meters, it will snow heavily at times until Sunday morning. In Saxony and Lusatia, the continuous rain will temporarily end on Saturday morning. According to the forecast, new rainfall will move in from Poland and the Czech Republic on Sunday, albeit probably with less intensity.

According to the weather service, 60 to 90 liters per square meter could accumulate on the edge of the Alps by Sunday morning within 48 hours, in some places even around 100 liters per square meter. In eastern Saxony, the Ore Mountains and Lower Lusatia, 30 to 50 liters per square meter are expected within 24 hours by midday on Saturday, with up to 70 liters per square meter in congested areas.

Flooding expected on the Elbe

In the eastern parts of Germany, attention is now turning to the weather situation in neighboring countries. The Elbe could also bring floods to Saxony and the Oder to Brandenburg. According to forecasts, the Elbe in Dresden will reach alert level 1 on Sunday - the lowest of four flood warning levels. Alert level 3 could be reached by Wednesday. The water level could therefore rise to six to seven meters, compared to a normal level of two meters in Dresden.

The situation is already tense due to the collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden. Emergency services are working flat out to clear the debris from the river - it is still unclear how long this will take.

Climate change leads to more heavy rain and flooding

Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND): "I am looking forward to the next few days with concern." When it comes to floods, the first priority is to have a functioning disaster control system and to provide rapid assistance to local people. However, she also referred to the importance of climate protection and more adaptation to climate change. "Basically, heavy rainfall events and floods are becoming more frequent due to the climate crisis. They are a massive safety risk and affect people in their everyday lives at ever shorter intervals."

Rivers need more space, said the Green politician. "Intact floodplains can absorb more water, dyke relocations can significantly lower flood peaks."