Tornado warning for Euro 2024 as storms forecast with risk of TWISTERS & fanzones closed over ‘danger to life’ threat
A TORNADO warning has been issued for the 2024 Euros as storms are set to hit Germany and fanzones have been shut down.
Germany‘s weather service, DWD, predicted severe weather and strong thunderstorms would hit western and central regions today.
Fans have been warned of possible twisters and a danger to life threat has been raised as the country braces for heavy storms.
Meteorologists have not been able to rule out tornadoes while hailstones, hurricane gusts and heavy rain are also expected – especially in West Germany.
Weather warnings are in place until 1am tonight.
In a blow for football fans there to watch the games – events across the country have been cancelled following the weather warnings.
Fanzones in Euros host cities Dortmund, Cologne, Dusseldorf and Gelsenkirchen – all in the North Rhine Westphalia state, have been shut.
Weather agency DWD said: “Supercells can form… sometimes even hurricanes between 90 and 120 km/h (55mph to 75mph) and larger hail between 3 and 5 cm.
“Heavy rain with amounts of around 30 l/sqm is also possible locally within a short period of time. Isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out.”
They added that Cologne, playing host to the Scotland v Switzerland game on Wednesday night, could face “severe thunderstorms with (extreme) storm potential” this evening.
Two festival spots – the Friedensplatz fanzone and public viewing spot at Westfalenpark – have also been closed down, BILD reports.
For now the fanzone in Leipzig is still open.
They host those who haven’t managed to bag tickets to the match but want in on the excitement, and offer activities, live music and viewing opportunities.
Tonight Turkey is set to take on Georgia at 6pm in Dortmund and Portugal will play the Czech Republic at 9pm in Leipzig.
Weather forecasters warned German outlet BILD of a “risk to life” but said it’s better to be “safe than sorry” when it comes to Euro fanzones.
Meteorologist Dominik Jung from wetter.net said: “The weather situation in the west is explosive!
“There is a risk to life. We don’t currently know every place that could get hit, but we do know the region where something could happen.
“People will complain again: ‘We didn’t have anything.’ But better safe than sorry.”
He also said thunderstorms could hit the areas of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria on Wednesday.
Germany is set to take on Hungary at the Stuttgart stadium in that region on Wednesday at 5pm.
Jung said: “It looks good in most regions on Wednesday. Except in the south of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria, where thunderstorms are possible. And that’s where Stuttgart is, where Germany plays.”
The DWD website reads: “Heavy thunderstorms in the southwest.
“From midday, heavy thunderstorms in the west and central parts, in the evening, also in the east.”
The agency also warned that thunderstorms could hit eastern Germany in areas like Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia beginning this afternoon.
German stadiums playing host to Euros matches in the country are dotted all around.
It includes Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena and Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park – two of Europe’s biggest grounds.
Climate expert Dr Karsten Brandt from Donnerwetter.de also told BILD: “Storm pressure system Wibke is approaching.
“On the one hand, there is a strip of continuous thunderstorms from the Netherlands across the Munsterland and Luneburg Heath.
“Here, 30-40 /m² will fall in six to eight hours. South of this, in the whole of NRW, Rhineland-Palatinate, in the south of Hesse, and also in Saarland and Saxony-Anhalt, there will be heavy thunderstorms from midday.”