Some German states report steady or improved flood levels, others not

DPA
·2 min read
An aerial view of vehicles from the THW and the fire department drive on a partially flooded road not far from the Aller. Philipp Schulze/dpa
An aerial view of vehicles from the THW and the fire department drive on a partially flooded road not far from the Aller. Philipp Schulze/dpa

Three German states hit by heavy rains and floods reported a mixed picture on Saturday following heavy precipitation in the last few days.

Only isolated showers are expected in some parts of flooded Lower Saxony on Saturday, with more rain seen on Sunday and Monday, but this should not lead to a rise in water levels, a meteorologist for the German Weather Service (DWD) predicted.

In the eastern state of Saxony, flooding of the Elbe River continues to recede, with the water level on Saturday morning at 5.30 metres, down from 5.92 metres seen on Friday but still well above the normal 2 metres, according to an overview from the Saxony's Flood Centre.

In Dresden, the state capital, as well as in Schöna on the Czech border and downstream in Riesa, the alert level was still 2, but hydrologists expect water levels to continue to fall. There were no more flood warnings for the other river basins in Saxony.

But in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, overnight rainfall was heavier than expected, leading to rising water levels in some rivers, as the areas were already saturated. In the southern part of the state the water was nearly half a metre above the highest alert level of 2 metres.

Over the New Year in Lower Saxony, the state is expected to see widespread precipitation again, mostly between one and five litres of rain per square metre, the service said on Saturday. Larger amounts of rainfall are not expected until Tuesday.

Masses of water flow through the dyke opening on the River Helme onto the surrounding areas. Heiko Rebsch/dpa
Masses of water flow through the dyke opening on the River Helme onto the surrounding areas. Heiko Rebsch/dpa
Two joggers on the Helme dyke near Moenchpfiffel-Nikolausrieth. The flood situation on the Helme and at the Kelbra reservoir remains tense. Heiko Rebsch/dpa
Two joggers on the Helme dyke near Moenchpfiffel-Nikolausrieth. The flood situation on the Helme and at the Kelbra reservoir remains tense. Heiko Rebsch/dpa