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12/4/13

Germany - weather: Hurricane-strength storm threatens north Germany

Named Xaver by meteorologists, blue skies will turn black as the low pressure system arrives on Thursday from Greenland. It may well be the worst storm the north has seen since the 1960's.

Thursday morning will, meteorologist Thomas Ruppert from state weather service DWD said, see wind up to force 12 on the coast – the same level as a hurricane - and further inland around force 10 or 11.
Hamburg will be in the middle of the action, where high winds, biting cold and blizzards will reach intensity later in the afternoon.

This will be accompanied by freezing snow showers and coastal inlet water levels around 2.5 metres higher than normal. This bad weather will travel eastwards and inland, but lose power as it goes.Coastal areas are at risk of flooding.

“Storm tides would be a concern for sandy coasts,” said head of coast protection Dietmar Wienholdt. “The dykes are winter-ready” he said, adding that “they will stand a storm tide like 1962 or 1976.”

The south of the country will also experience gale-force blasts, especially in the mountains, although this will not be as bad as in the north, which will have to wait until Friday for the wild weather to calm down.

Read more: Hurricane-strength storm threatens north Germany - The Local

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