Storm Joshua is moving away – northern Germany remains windy and unsettled!

Storm Joshua is moving away – northern Germany remains windy and unsettled!

On October 26, 2025, storm depression “Joshua” gradually moved out of northern Germany, but still caused strong winds. While the winds temporarily subsided in many regions of the north, the effects of this severe storm remained clearly noticeable. In Hamburg, the storm surge exceeded the quay edge at the fish market and the water level rose to 1.85 meters above mean high water. This caused the water to enter the promenade, fortunately without any significant damage, as NDR reports.

The fish auction hall was already under water the night before, and similar storm surge levels were also expected for the North Sea coast on Sunday afternoon. According to the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), the forecasts for the Weser area were 1 to 1.5 meters above the mean flood. The mayor of Hallig Hooge, Michael Klisch, commented indifferently on the weather situation and noted that such situations occur three to five times a year, thanks to a protective summer dike.

Traffic disruptions and dangers

The storm situation led to significant traffic delays. A train was evacuated in Bad Zwischenahn and a route on the A28 had to be closed after a tree fell onto the road. Wilhelmshaven experienced flooding that left parts of the promenade and parking lots underwater. Things were also turbulent in Düsseldorf: a 50 meter high tree fell and damaged a total of nine cars. Fortunately, there were no injuries to report, according to Euronews.

Weather warnings remained in place until the evening, with warning levels ranging from strong squalls to hurricane-force winds that could reach 130 km/h. The BSW also reported that specious ferry cancellations to the North Sea had to be accepted for safety reasons. The cruise ship “AIDAperla” changed its itinerary and returned to Hamburg a day earlier – a clear consequence of the unstable weather conditions.

Seasonal outlook

Experts are cautiously optimistic about the 2025/2026 storm surge season. While the current weather situation has caused distress in some regions, according to the BSH there is no storm surge for the time being, even after the highest water levels. The first snow fell at the high altitudes of the Harz Mountains, while in southern Germany the snowfall limit fell to 1,000 meters. This led to a risk of slippery roads, particularly where there were short-term showers and thunderstorms.

In summary, it can be said that storm “Joshua” left its mark without causing any serious damage. During these storms, the audience seems to have a good knack for dealing with nature's adversities, as documented by BSH.