Two Killed in Head-On Collision as Severe Thunderstorms Sweep Southwest Germany

In Mosbach, in the Neckar-Odenwald district, around 30 people were temporarily trapped in the vaulted cellar of a restaurant after rainwater cascaded down the steps. The fire department reported that water in the cellar was about 60 centimeters high when they arrived.

Some guests who were eating in the cellar managed to escape via the stairs, while others were rescued by firefighters through a window. The area around the restaurant had to be pumped out before the main door could be opened. No one was injured in the incident.

Lightning Strikes and Flooding

In the Calw district, heavy rain caused several flooded basements, according to district fire chief Tido Lüdtke. In Bad Wildbad, four basements filled with water and the asphalt of one road broke open due to the storm. Fire crews remained on site into the early evening.

The storm also affected other regions. In Osnabrück, lightning struck a church during a baptism celebration, but no one was injured. In nearby Melle, lightning hit the roof of a residential building, causing a fire but no injuries.

The German Weather Service (DWD) had issued severe weather warnings for parts of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Hesse, and Thuringia. A DWD meteorologist said there were isolated thunderstorms with heavy rain and hail, including in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe.

Weather Outlook

By late evening, the DWD lifted all remaining severe thunderstorm warnings for Baden-Württemberg. A police spokesperson in Freiburg reported no weather-related incidents there, saying: "Es gab nichts. Das ist an uns vorbeigegangen."

Looking ahead, the DWD expects maximum temperatures between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius on Monday, marking the start of meteorological summer. Rain may linger on the Swabian Alb in the morning, but conditions should otherwise remain dry despite many clouds.

On Tuesday, isolated showers are possible until midday, with afternoon thunderstorms and some squalls expected. Maximum temperatures are forecast between 19 degrees on the Zollernalb and 26 degrees on the Rhine.

Multiple fire department operations were still ongoing in Mosbach as of the time of reporting, and in Binau, mud and debris washed through streets without blocking traffic on the federal highway.