Storm Ravages Southwest Germany

A heavy thunderstorm lashed parts of southwest Germany on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, uprooting trees and causing havoc on streets and motorways. The city of Freiburg witnessed torrential rain, with streets flooded and water up to 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) high. "We had a dramatic situation," a spokesman for the city's fire department said. Police in Wiesbaden reported hail as big as tennis balls. Lightning severed telephone lines at the main police station, while in Heidelberg lightning destroyed a chimney of a private home, bits of which damaged nearby parked cars. Meteorologists are warning of further stormy weather, particularly in east Germany.