Storm Cherry batters eastern Germany: S-Bahn hits tree in Berlin, 129 emergency calls in Dessau-Roßlau
Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, hail and storm gusts swept across five eastern German states on Friday evening, causing an S-Bahn train to collide with a fallen tree in Berlin and triggering more than 120 fire brigade callouts in Dessau-Roßlau alone.
Storm system Cherry sweeps across eastern Germany
The low-pressure system "Cherry" moved from Belgium across northern Germany on Friday, dragging cooler air into the east and triggering a line of violent thunderstorms. The German Weather Service (DWD) had issued warnings for very heavy showers, hail, heavy rain and severe storm gusts, with the highest alert level declared for several districts. The storms hit Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Thuringia during the evening, leaving a trail of flooded basements, fallen trees and transport disruption.
Berlin: S-Bahn collision and lightning strike
In Berlin, a train on the S1 line carrying around 100 passengers struck a tree that had fallen onto the tracks at Sundgauer Straße station. The front window shattered, but no one was injured. Bundespolizei shift leader Thorsten Peters confirmed: "According to current information, nobody was hurt." Passengers had to wait inside the train until the line could be cleared.
So we just sat there for quite a while and waited for something to happen.
After about an hour, the section between Zehlendorf and Botanischer Garten was reopened. Separately, a lightning strike in Pankow caused delays, cancellations and restrictions on lines S1, S2, S8 and S85. The S2 was limited to a 10-minute interval between Lichtenrade and Potsdamer Platz, while the S85 ran only between BER Airport and Treptower Park, with passengers directed to the S8 for the remainder of the route. The Berlin fire brigade reported only a handful of weather-related callouts, including a building fire in Westend triggered by a lightning strike.
Saxony-Anhalt: 129 calls in Dessau-Roßlau alone
The most intense impacts were felt in Saxony-Anhalt. Control centres logged at least 70 alarms for flooded basements, submerged streets and fallen trees. In Dessau-Roßlau, the storm lasted just 20 minutes but overwhelmed emergency services. By 8 p.m., the city had recorded 121 assistance calls and eight fire calls, with nearly 170 personnel from the professional and volunteer fire brigades deployed.
We haven't had this many calls in such a short time in ages.
In Derenburg, streets were left underwater after a torrential downpour accompanied by hail, and in Ermsleben the B185 federal highway was flooded. No injuries were reported anywhere in the state.
Brandenburg escapes major damage
Brandenburg saw a comparatively mild impact. The fire brigade control centre in Cottbus reported 13 callouts by evening, mostly for broken tree crowns and a fallen tree blocking a road. In Brandenburg an der Havel and the districts of Potsdam-Mittelmark and Teltow-Fläming, crews dealt with at least two flooded basements and two fallen trees. The cities of Frankfurt (Oder) and the districts of Oder-Spree and Märkisch-Oderland recorded no significant incidents. The Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg warned visitors about falling branches in parks. Despite multiple severe weather warnings, no injuries or large-scale operations were reported.
- Highest alert level for several districts in eastern Germany.
- S1 train hits fallen tree at Sundgauer Straße; lightning strike in Pankow.
- Lines S1, S2, S8, S85 affected; S2 limited to 10-minute interval, S85 rerouted.
- 121 assistance calls and 8 fire calls by 8 p.m.; 170 personnel deployed.
- Section between Zehlendorf and Botanischer Garten cleared after about one hour.
- 13 callouts in Cottbus area; 2 flooded basements and 2 fallen trees elsewhere.
Weekend forecast: cooler and unsettled
The DWD expects the weather to calm somewhat over the weekend. Saturday will be a transitional day with gusty winds and highs of 23 to 26 degrees Celsius. On Sunday, the change will be more noticeable, with maximum temperatures dropping to 20 to 22 degrees. The coming week is forecast to remain changeable and significantly cooler, with further showers and thunderstorms possible.
