Storm warning: gale-force winds and thunderstorms during the night

People in Berlin and Brandenburg have to prepare for stormy weather on Wednesday night.

Official weather warning from 10 PM

According to the German Weather Service (DWD), wind gusts of up to 60 km/h will occur on Wednesday (Feb. 16, 2022). In the night from Wednesday to Thursday, the weather should become even stormier: from 10 PM until 6 PM on Thursday, an official storm warning has been declared. Hurricane-like gusts of up to 110 kilometers per hour are expected. There will be isolated thunderstorms, some of them severe, with sleet and isolated gale-force winds up to 120 kilometers per hour.

Berlin Zoo and Tierpark closed on Thursday

Both the Berlin Zoo and the Tierpark will remain closed on Thursday(Feb. 17, 2022) because of the storm warning. The Botanical Garden will be closed on Thursday as well. In addition, several district offices for public roads and parks warn against entering parks and green spaces, which can become life-threateningly dangerous due to falling branches or trees. The DWD recommends avoiding outdoor activities and keeping windows and doors closed during the storm warning.

Fire department prepared for stormy night

The fire department urges people to exercise caution during a violent storm. Even in the city, people should be attentive and look up to recognize possible dangers. The fire department does not have to make any special preparations for a stormy night: 500 to 600 firefighters are already on standby at night under normal circumstances. The volunteer fire departments, with a total of 1500 members, could also be alerted at very short notice at any time. Experience shows that most alarms are not received at night but rather early in the morning, when people wake up and discover the storm damage.

Mild temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday morning will be cloudy with isolated rain showers in the afternoon. The maximum temperature will be between nine and twelve degrees Celsius. In the night to Thursday, the clouds will thicken. In the course of the night, heavy rain is expected, with temperatures ranging between ten and seven degrees Celsius.