Heavy rainfall ranging from 40-100 millimeters (mm) has occurred in parts of central Europe beginning May 17, prompting severe flooding in southwest Germany, northeast France, and eastern Belgium. Floodwaters have inundated buildings, and landslides have blocked roadways leaving vehicles stranded in affected areas. In south-central Luxembourg, rainfall caused water levels on the Alzette river to exceed alerting thresholds.
Further rainfall is expected to begin on May 22, though forecasts show that the volume will be much lower than the last storm. Nevertheless, additional storms will complicate damage assessments and risk exacerbating existing logistics disruptions.
Logistics temporarily disabled as road and rail made impassable by floods
Severe flooding has inundated roads in the affected areas, temporarily disrupting logistics operations across the region. In the most affected German state of Saarland, many roads were impassable from May 17-19 due to flash flooding. Railways faced restricted operations and will maintain a limited schedule until damage assessments can be made.
By May 19, most flooded roadways in Germany had reopened as water levels recessed, but a subsequent landslide led to the closure of Federal Highway 41. As saturated terrain is susceptible to movement, there are concerns of further mudslides and landslides in the days to come.
France saw motorway closures affecting Paris and Rountzenheim in the direction of Strasbourg-Lauterbourg. Closures began on May 17 and were lifted by May 19. Luxembourg also suffered road closures, despite experiencing less severe flooding than its neighbors. Though trade between the affected countries has not been reportedly disrupted, the A2 motorway in Belgium remained partially closed on May 19. Railway services between Visé, Belgium and Maastricht Randwyck, Netherlands were also suspended on May 17, but have since resumed as normal.
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