Storm Manja: second wave of hurricane-force gusts expected Sunday afternoon
Gusts of up to 120 km/h are forecast for Germany's North Sea coast and uplands on Sunday. The Black Forest faces severe persistent rain, and Hamburg's fish market could flood.
Archive image · Photo: Alinea / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (cropped and resized)
Storm Manja reached Germany overnight into Sunday, the night the clocks went back. Early Sunday, gusts reached about 70 km/h inland and 75 to 120 km/h on the North Sea and on mountain tops, according to forecasters.
From midday, the wind is set to veer southwest to west and strengthen again. Forecasters expect severe gale to hurricane-force gusts of 100 to 120 km/h on the North Sea and at higher elevations, with gusts of up to 70 km/h in many places, and up to 85 km/h in isolated spots, possible in Berlin, Hanover and Frankfurt. Hail-laden thunderstorms could briefly intensify the wind. In parts of the Black Forest, around 70 liters per square meter could fall within 24 hours, reaching severe-weather levels.
The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency expects significantly higher water levels through Monday, and the lower part of Hamburg's fish market could flood. The Halunder Jet ferry to Heligoland is not running, and the Halligen islets will not be served on Sunday or Monday. The wind is forecast to ease overnight into Monday, though it will stay stormy on the coasts, with a clear improvement on Monday.