Severe Storms Cause Extensive Damage Across Southern Germany and Neighboring Regions

Severe storms on August 29, 2026, struck southern Germany—particularly around Lake Constance and Baden-Württemberg—as well as neighboring Switzerland and northern Italy, causing widespread damage, injuries, and disruptions. In Singen, Germany, around 190 houses suffered damage, with one building declared uninhabitable and its six residents relocated to hotels. The Bohlingen district in Singen was temporarily closed but has since reopened, according to fire chief Mario Dutzi. Over 220 emergency sites were logged in Baden-Württemberg alone, involving damaged roofs, fallen trees blocking roads, and around 300 emergency responders deployed across multiple districts. One person was injured and hospitalized due to storm impacts.

The storm system brought hurricane-strength wind gusts, with Schaffhausen, Switzerland, experiencing speeds of up to 143 km/h, classified as Orkanstärke 12. Nearby towns such as Steckborn and Friedrichshafen also recorded gusts of 130 km/h and 114 km/h respectively. Hailstones reached dangerous sizes of up to 6 cm in diameter, with tennis ball-sized hail reported in Brescia, Italy. Around 40 people, many children, were injured by hail in Switzerland and required hospital treatment.

The storms led to transportation disruptions, including temporary closures of several railway lines and a regional train stranded by fallen branches in Baden-Württemberg. In the Ludwigsburg district, heavy storms triggered roughly 100 emergency calls related to fallen trees and flooding. Meanwhile, in Cremona, Italy, historical buildings such as the dome and the Torre Civica were damaged, with approximately 10,000 cars affected and over 300 emergency calls managed by more than 160 firefighters.

The German Weather Service (DWD) warned of further thunderstorms, heavy rain, and hailstorms continuing through the weekend despite an expected drop in temperature to highs between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius in affected areas. Authorities advised residents to remain vigilant for ongoing severe weather threats.

In sum, the August 29 storms delivered extraordinary strength and widespread impacts across multiple countries, highlighting vulnerabilities in infrastructure and prompting extensive emergency responses.