One of the most affected areas was the Zurich area, which became the center of the storms. In two hours, as much rain fell there as in the entire month of June. In the town of Sihlbrugg, which lies on the border between the cantons of Zug and Zurich, 57 liters per square meter fell, in Küsnacht 54 liters and in Opfikon 53 liters, writes the website of the daily Blick.
The strong wind literally uprooted the trees from the ground. Falling branches injured eight people, the worst being a 16-year-old girl, who was taken to hospital in critical condition by rescuers. Wind gusts reached speeds of up to 89 km/h in some places.
Meteorologists registered seven thousand lightning strikes in the Zurich area, exactly 6888. The storms brought with them a sharp drop in temperature. Within one to two hours, it dropped by about 12 to 15 degrees.
Similarly strong storms ravaged the west of Germany and the western part of Poland on Friday evening and Saturday night. In Rastatt in southwestern Germany, nine people were struck by lightning at a sports event, six of whom ended up in hospital.
In the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, the authorities issued a warning against extreme floods at night, the level of one of the rivers in the region rose by almost two meters within a few hours, but then quickly fell again.
Meteorologists warn that it is the beginning. Similarly strong should accompany the entire weekend.
