Sturmchaos in East Hesse: lightning strikes and evacuations on Saturday evening!

Sturmchaos in East Hesse: lightning strikes and evacuations on Saturday evening!

On the evening of May 6, 2025, there were strong thunderstorms in East Hesse, who had sometimes had a devastating effects. Lightning strikes, storms and hail led to numerous operations by the police and fire brigade. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The main reports increased between 6:50 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. when the storm phase reached its peak. According to the Fuldaer Zeitung , the forces were above all due to the overturned trees.

In Gelnhausen-Höchst, a flash hit a tree, which damages both a electricity mast and a high-voltage cable. This led to the evacuation of 34 people who had to spend the night with friends or relatives. The closures in the area, especially around the fir path, are expected to continue until Sunday at 3 p.m.

traffic disruptions and property damage

The weather conditions not only brought over fallen trees; In Fulda, some large branches fell on the lanes, including on Künzeller Strasse, where a tree blocked the entrance of a hotel. Also on the A7 road users reported disabilities by fallen branches. In addition, considerable damage to property was found in the Vogelsberg district, especially in Lauterbach, where a metal fence hit several parked cars damaged and downhill roof tiles. In the elementary school in Alsfeld, a lightning strike triggered an alarm, but there were no injured persons, as the Osthessen news reported.

The police in Fulda registered around 20 missions in the relevant period. Meanwhile, the situation in the Main-Kinzig district was relatively relaxed, where only isolated fallen trees were reported. The weather service had previously warned of strong thunderstorms in the districts of Fulda, Main-Kinzig, Vogelsberg and Hersfeld-Rotenburg, with maximum values ​​for storm gusts of up to 110 km/h and heavy rain of up to 30 l/m² per hour.

sustainable effects of the storm

In addition, the storm led to further problems. For example, the federal road between Philippsthal and the state border with Thuringia was closed due to dirt on the road. The B62 also had to be completely blocked in Philippsthal due to floods and similar pollution. In Bad Salzschlirf, an overturned oak in the spa park was registered by a lightning strike that caused considerable damage to the historical spa park residence.

As mentioned in the previous reports, at least nine gray herons were killed by lightning strikes, which also illustrates the effects of the storm on the wildlife. The Lauterbach fire brigade was in use with 67 forces at 25 points of operation.

Despite the strong storms and the resulting challenges, the long -term risks seem to have been temporarily minimized. The weather forecast of the German Weather Service signals that no further warnings are required at first. The current high -pressure position about the UK could temporarily ensure relaxation, while the weather conditions in southern Europe continue to be evident.