Northern Germany Faces Severe Storm 'Joshua' and Harsh Weather Shift

Northern Germany is bracing for a severe bout of extreme weather starting Wednesday, October 22, 2025, with the arrival of the powerful autumn storm "Joshua". The storm is forecasted to bring destructive winds reaching speeds up to 160 km/h, particularly impacting Schleswig-Holstein's islands and the west coast. Meteorologist Sebastian Wache indicated that the situation could escalate to a worst-case scenario, especially for coastal regions (110731).

Following this, a strong Orkantief weather system will sweep across the North Sea on Thursday, October 23, unleashing wind gusts exceeding 120 km/h along the northwest coast, including Schleswig-Holstein, Niedersachsen, Bremen, and areas around Hamburg. This will trigger storm surge warnings, with places like Hamburg's fish market and East Frisia at high risk of flooding (110744).

As these severe winds threaten to cause heavy damage and disruptions, a dramatic drop in temperatures is also forecasted. Starting Friday, October 24, cold air masses moving in from the north will bring early snowfall to higher elevations of the Mittelgebirge and the Alps, with snow levels possibly descending below 1000 meters. By the weekend, snowflakes might fall in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Thüringen, and Hessen, marking an early onset of winter (110744).

The weather outlook remains dire, with sustained wet and windy conditions anticipated into early November. The US GFS weather model predicts over 100 liters of rain per square meter in parts of Germany by November 5, with quarterly western regions possibly seeing up to 180 liters, raising serious flood concerns. Experts warn that the autumn of 2025 could be among the wettest and windiest in recent memory, with more storms expected towards Halloween (110744).

Schleswig-Holstein is actively preparing for the storm’s impact, including renovating infrastructure like the Yachthafen Damp after previous storm damage. Emergency responders remain vigilant as residents brace for intense weather and flooding risks (110731).