- In the video: Onset of winter, blizzard and hurricane: polar vortex shakes up the last week of Advent
Hurricane Zoltan moves from Greenland across the Baltic Sea – with severe consequences for large parts of Germany. Households nationwide must therefore expect heavy gusts of wind on Thursday and Friday, reports “The Weather Channel”. According to the German Weather Service, hurricane-like gusts of between 110 and 130 km/h can occur in the mountains and on the coasts.
From Wednesday to Friday, squalls of varying strength will sweep across all federal states. The hurricane raged particularly strongly on Wednesday in Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt with a strength of 11 on the Beaufort scale (Bft). On Thursday again on the North Sea coast, via Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg (11 Bft each) and over Saxony (12 Bft).
FOCUS online advises: Christmas trees and decorative items in the garden or in front of the front door should definitely be brought into the house.
Storm, hurricane and lots of rain just a few days before Christmas! Is the festival now falling apart? Rather not. But you should be careful, protect yourself well and prepare for delays in travel.
Storm warning: This is what you should pay attention to now
If it’s stormy and hailing outside, it’s better to stay at home. If you still have to leave the house, you should be careful. The strong gusts of wind could tear off roof tiles, scaffolding or entire parts of the facade. In such conditions, passers-by can, in the worst case scenario, endanger their lives.
Avoid walks, dog walking or cycling, especially in the forest. You could be injured by falling trees or branches breaking off. During strong storms, avoid construction sites and do not walk through overhead power lines. Also remember that you can be surprised by heavy hail while walking. For this reason too, it is better to stay at home.
Vehicles should be parked in the garage. If the car is on the street, it should be parked in such a way that it cannot be damaged by falling trees or falling roof tiles. The ADAC also recommends removing roof boxes, roof racks and other structures in order to minimize damage in extreme cases. You should also take photos of the parked car or film it with your smartphone. This can be important for insurance in the event of damage.
Hurricane Zoltan sweeps over Germany – roller shutters not at “half mast”
The greatest danger in a storm comes from the objects that are carried away. Therefore, check whether your fence, for example, is in order. The fastenings must not be loose and the point foundation should stabilize the fence posts. In extreme cases, parts of the fence can become real projectiles.
This is another reason why you should either put away moving parts or fix them firmly. These include Christmas trees, Christmas decorations, flower boxes or balcony stands. You should also attach garden furniture, parasols or outdoor lights to the wall or floor. Also, secure outside garbage cans and lock away garden furniture.
Keep doors and windows tightly closed. If there are storms and thunderstorms outside, it is advisable to lower the shutters or shutters. However, if hail occurs, you should raise the shutters completely to avoid damage from the ice projectiles. Under no circumstances should you set the roller shutters to “half mast”. Insurers such as ERGO, Allianz and the Association of Private Builders (VBP) advise against this.
Homeowners should also keep an eye on their bushes and trees. You should snap off and remove rotten branches as they could cause damage and injuries. It becomes particularly dangerous when trees and bushes protrude into public traffic areas.
Christmas tree, shopping, parking – that’s what you have to consider now
Especially from Thursday onwards, the supermarkets and discount stores will be a little fuller than usual. If possible, park your vehicle in the underground car park of the discount store or supermarket. This will prevent damage from flying objects. Pack the products in bags in the store. Christmas tree sellers may need to tie their products together or move them to places protected from the wind. Therefore, plan more time. FOCUS online advises: Have a net pulled over the fir tree. This makes transport easier during squalls!
If you want to transport a Christmas tree by car, you should keep in mind that the load must be adequately secured on the roof or in the trunk. For journeys of more than 100 kilometers, the load must generally not protrude more than 1.50 meters; for shorter distances it is three meters. By the way! Anyone who drives without the red warning flag on the Christmas tree will face a fine of 25 euros.
Railways could restrict train traffic
“The railway will stop long-distance traffic at some point on Thursday, at least that is very likely,” says Jan Schenk, meteorologist at “The Weather Channel” when asked. Delays in regional and long-distance transport can occur, particularly due to branches in the overhead lines or fallen trees on the tracks. Travelers should keep this in mind. Schenk continues: “Especially in the north, the storm is becoming so strong that massive restrictions must be expected from Thursday. If you can, you should have your Christmas presents together and ideally travel before the storm.” Travelers should regularly inform themselves about the current train connections. “If rail traffic is closed due to a storm and you cannot continue traveling until the next day at the earliest, the railway must either offer you alternative transport or provide free overnight accommodation,” says the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations. The bus is a potential alternative transport for long-distance journeys, and a shared taxi for local transport.