Massive Storm in NRW: Flooding, Hail, and Emergency Calls Galore
Increase in verified flu fatalities in Nigeria reaches 150
Sounding off: This monster storm is tearing its way through North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, giving locals quite the headache.
The Great Storm of '25: NRW and Baden-Württemberg bear the brunt of the brutal storm that swept through the region on the night of May 31 to June 1, 2025. Streets get flooded, basements soak up water, trees come crashing down, and hail—bigger than a ping-pong ball—lamps residents with additional trouble[2][3].
A Music Fest Gone Awry: In the Heinsberg district, the open-air music festival "Jeck en de City" in Hückelhoven was forced to shut down due to the worsening weather, with 5,500 festival-goers scrambling to evacuate. 11 folk end up with minor injuries from hail in this chaotic scene[2].
Somewhere else, a train approaching the Dutch border needed an evacuation after lightning zapped the overhead line, leaving around 160 passengers in a pickle[2].
Still, according to emergency services in NRW, the overall response from people has been "pretty decent," with most injuries being just minor scratches[3].
As of now, cleanup crews are hard at work, and everyone keeps a keen eye out as more bumpy weather is on the horizon.
In the aftermath of the Great Storm of '25, concerns shifted towards medical-conditions as heavy hail caused 11 minor injuries amongst festival-goers. Amidst the health-and-wellness challenges, science played a crucial role in understanding and addressing the potential long-term effects of such extreme weather incidents on human health.
