According to experts, the rain forecast for Thursday night in the north of North Rhine-Westphalia can lead to local flooding, but information levels for the water levels are not expected to be exceeded.
Essen (dpa/lnw) – Due to the predominantly dry soil, a reduced water absorption capacity is to be expected, and heavy rain can cause local flooding and run-off, said the flood information service of the State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (Lanuv) on Wednesday.
The German Weather Service (DWD) expects thunderstorms to become more intense late in the evening and on Thursday night, and there could be up to 70 liters of rain per square meter within three to six hours. According to Lanuv, peaks are to be expected in the Lower Rhine, Münsterland and Teutoburg Forest regions.
In smaller bodies of water, local thunderstorms could cause overflow and flooding, Lanuv said. Rising water levels must also be expected for larger bodies of water in NRW. In extreme cases, the level of the Berkel near Ammeloe could rise by one meter and the level of the Lippe near Leven by one and a half meters. However, this would still not even have reached the first level of information, in which the public would be warned of escalation.
