Devastating tornado hits northern Germany

Northern Germany suffered extensive damage in a tornado outbreak on May 5, 2015. The eyewitnesses reported overturned cars, ripped up trees and severely damaged buildings.

Intense winds have caused traffic shutdown, one person was killed and at least 30 people are reported injured during the violent weather outbreak in the district of Rostock, Bützow‬.

One resident reports the incident as "insane", describing: "I saw that the clouds were very strange … and it was like a punch in the face, the wind and water and rain. I have never seen anything like this in my life, it is complete madness. Hundreds of trees have been overturned, completely uprooted, roofs ripped off. You don't experience something like this every day." (The Guardian)

Bremen, Broken and Geilenkirchen report the strongest wind gusts, with wind speeds reaching 119 km/h (73.9 mph).

The event was accompanied with heavy rainfall and unusual temperature oscillation. 84 mm of rain was recorded in the city of Laage, and the temperature in Hamburg was recorded to jump from 12°C on Saturday up to 24°C this Tuesday.

The full extent of damage is yet to be fully assessed. More severe weather, rain and thunderstorms are now moving towards Eastern Europe.