Germany braces for storm Ylenia with Hurricane-force gusts
February 17, 2022, 4:37 pm

Germany braces for storm Ylenia with Hurricane-force gusts

Heidelberg is a town on the Neckar River in southwestern Germany. It’s known for venerable Heidelberg University, founded in the 14th century (File photo: Pixabay)

The Xinhua reported, the German Weather Service (DWD) on Wednesday issued the second highest severe weather warning for all of northern and eastern Germany, as the country is bracing for storm Ylenia.

DWD meteorologist Adrian Leyser said, storm Ylenia is expected to bring Hurricane-force gusts with wind speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour in parts of Germany. "These are wind speeds that we do not experience in the lowlands so widespread every year."

Some federal states, such as North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland, have already announced to close schools or allowed students to stay at home on Thursday while Germany's state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn warned of disruptions to train traffic due to the severe weather.

Representative image-Thunderstorm (File photo: Pixabay)

The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) warned on Wednesday, on the North Sea coast of Germany, there was a risk of a storm surge, as the high tide could be one to two meters above normal levels.

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Because gusts could occur very suddenly, there was a "potential for damage that should not be underestimated," Leyser said. Trees could be uprooted, roofs damaged and objects whirled around. "So not only traveling, but being outdoors in general should be avoided whenever possible."

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According to the German weather service, storm Ylenia would slowly weaken over the course of Thursday. However, the next hurricane Zeynep, whose intensity could not yet be accurately predicted, was already expected for Friday.

Source: xinhua

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Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.