Across Europe, the authorities were ramping up warnings of extreme weather. German forecasters said parts of the country needed to be on alert for thunderstorms, hail and heavy rain over the weekend.
In the meantime Germany is bracing for an extended heatwave as temperatures are forecast to climb to 38°C, with nationwide heat warnings issued by the German Meteorological Service.
Scientists link the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme heat to human-made climate change, with Europe warming fast.
Forecasters also warn of severe thunderstorms, hail and heavy rain, while “tropical nights” and rising heat stress pose growing risks to public health.
Extreme heat has deformed road surfaces in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, leading to freeway closures.
Speeds on the A13 Autobahn near Dresden have been limited to 30 km/h (18.6 mph) say police, causing major traffic backups.
Germany’s ADAC automobile association also reported that asphalt swelling had forced lane closures.
Further west, near Lübeck, the A1 was also affected by heat-related road damage and closures.
The Federal Transportation Ministry’s Autobahn GmbH, which manages Germany’s freeways, said extreme temperatures put great stress on infrastructure materials, including concrete and asphalt road surfaces.
In the southwestern state of Rheinland-Palatinate, water levels rose from 27 centimeters to nearly two meters (10.5 inches to 6.5 feet) in less than four hours.
A spokeswoman for the Rhein-Lahn district municipality said such levels are “twice a century” occurrences.
Authorities say much damage was averted as flood warnings were issued early and emergency services were put on standby.
German authorities say they have so far responded to more than 60 emergency calls, most having to do with flooded roads and downed trees.
