Several areas in southern Germany have experienced precipitation levels in recent days that typically only occur once every 50 to 100 years, according to preliminary data from the German Meteorological Service (DWD).
Heavy rain and severe flooding in Germany’s two southernmost states have been causing massive disruptions for days, with tens of thousands of emergency services in constant action since Friday evening.
Thousands of people have been evacuated in recent days, and even more are about to leave their homes, as southern Germany was lashed by heavy rainfall, causing rivers to swell.
At least four people have died in the floods and at least one firefighter is still missing.
DWD meteorologist Thomas Deutschländer said the rainfall could be described as a once-in-a-century event, “certainly unusual, but not completely extraordinary.”
“It’s all a bit preliminary, we still have to check the data,” Deutschländer said, adding that stations sometimes failed or the readings were too low.
In total, about 20 to 30 measuring stations in southern Germany showed extremely high water levels. Some extreme values relate to precipitation on one day, while others refer to precipitation over three consecutive days, Deutschländer explains.
