Violent storms: Chaos in Bavaria – floods and injuries!

Violent storms: Chaos in Bavaria – floods and injuries!

A strong storm raged across Bavaria on Sunday, June 16, 2025, putting numerous emergency services on alert. The rapidly approaching thunderstorms and the accompanying heavy rain resulted in a large number of operations in several regions of the Free State.

The situation was particularly dramatic at Lake Pfraundorf in the Altmühltal, where bathers were surprised by the sudden changes in the weather. Many did not have enough time to reach safety and frantically ran away with towels and belongings. Storm clouds also gathered over the Neu-Ulm district, which further fueled the chaotic weather situation.

Operations and damage

In total, around 200 police and fire service operations had to be carried out on Sunday evening and the following night. The main reasons for the alarms were broken trees and full basements. The most affected regions included northern Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate and Swabia. In Swabia alone there were around 70 missions, while the fire brigade in Eastern Bavaria had to be deployed 84 times without any injuries or deaths, as BR.de reports.

In Neuburg an der Donau, the heavy rain led to flooding of streets and buildings. Particularly noteworthy was an incident in which a Ryanair passenger plane from Berlin had to unexpectedly land in Memmingen because the weather made onward travel impossible. Nine passengers, including a two-year-old child, were injured; the airline organized buses for the onward journey.

Nature didn't let itself be stopped and made a few unexpected finds: In Leipheim, a shrapnel grenade from the First World War was discovered during clean-up work.

Climate and future

Unfortunately, these violent weather events are no longer uncommon and are in the context of increasing extreme weather conditions, which are favored by climate change. A study by the German Weather Service, the Federal Office for Civil Protection and other partners shows that extreme weather events such as heavy rain could increase in the future. The catalog of extreme precipitation events, which is based on radar-based data, shows that such weather conditions are becoming more intense and widespread. German Climate Portal highlights the urgency of adaptation measures to minimize damage in urban environments.

In Munich, the news of the storms even led to a sporting delay: the German national soccer team's Nations League semi-final against Portugal had to be postponed by ten minutes because hail prevented the players from playing quickly.

The events of last Sunday are likely to reignite discussions about civil protection and the need for more urban greenery and compact building projects so that such weather conditions do not gain the upper hand. It is clear that Bavarian citizens must remain vigilant in order to be able to act in a timely manner in such extreme cases.