Flood over Ulm: Fire brigade fights against extreme heavy rain!

Flood over Ulm: Fire brigade fights against extreme heavy rain!

A violent storm cast its spell over the Ulm and Neu-Ulm area on Saturday afternoon. As the German Weather Service (DWD) reports, thunderstorms, heavy rain and hail were predicted, which led to rainfall of a whopping 93 liters per square meter in just 20 minutes in Holzheim. These extreme weather conditions far exceeded forecasts and resulted in a Level 3 Severe Weather Warning, putting the region on alert. The local fire department has its hands full, with shift leader Achim Senser reporting on 39 registered operations, which took place primarily in Holzheim, but also in Finningen, Neuhausen and partly in Pfaffenhofen.

The first emergency call reached the Donau-Iller integrated control center at 5:15 p.m. This was followed by numerous reports of cellars overflowing, while Silheimer Straße in Straß was flooded. The fire department was forced to open manholes to drain the water. A total of 40 locations were reported by the fire departments, and the helpers were on duty for around four hours. Support also came from the Senden volunteer fire department and the Unsöld butcher shop, which provided food for the rescue workers.

Effective coordination of operations

In order to overcome the challenges, the district operations center in Neu-Ulm began its work to coordinate the operations. The staff here was increased due to the severe weather warning and were on duty until around 8 p.m. The public's attention was also focused on a DFB Cup game between FV Illertissen and 1. FC Nürnberg that had to be briefly interrupted due to the storm.

The DWD also warned of further severe thunderstorms and predicted up to 40 liters of rain per square meter in an hour as well as squalls with speeds of up to 100 km/h and hail with a grain size of around four centimeters. Despite these alarm reports, there was no hail, but significantly more rain fell than originally predicted, which further aggravated the situation.

In this tense situation, the performance of the emergency services is crucial. As the information shows, the firefighters in Neu-Ulm and Holzheim demonstrated a great knack for supporting residents and minimizing damage. It remains to be hoped that the weather situation will calm down soon and such extreme weather events will not become a habit in the region.

By the way, preparations in other sports areas are currently in full swing: The first week of the 2025/26 preseason for Atlético Madrid's first team starts on Monday, July 21, 2025. The team will prepare in Los Ángeles de San Rafael, while the players will first undergo a medical check at the Centro Deportivo Majadahonda. On Sunday, August 17, 2025, the team will make its LaLiga debut against Espanyol, further proof that the sport is making progress despite the forces of nature.

Current events show that weather extremes and sporting challenges often run parallel - each a test of community and competitive spirit.