Until 6 a.m. on Thursday, January 4, the German Weather Service has issued official warnings of continuous rain for large parts of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. As a result of the precipitation that has already fallen and is still forecast, water levels in some rivers will rise rapidly.
After the Bonn gauge stood at 5.36 meters at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, the Rhineland-Palatinate Flood Forecasting Centre is expecting a water level of around 7.50 meters for Friday, 5 January 2024. This water level corresponds to an average flood (from 7.40 meters). It remains to be seen whether the previous high this winter of 7.51 meters on 26 December will be exceeded.
Bank areas and paths are flooded
From Thursday morning, January 4, riverbank areas in Beuel and below the Alter Zoll in Bonn as well as paths near the banks through the parks (e.g. Leinpfad in the north of Bonn and Heimkehrerweg in the Rheinaue) are expected to be flooded again. The city will close the relevant areas or put up warning signs. The cycle paths along the Rhine will also no longer be continuously passable. The city recommends using paths away from the banks and not cycling on paths that are only slightly flooded.
As stand-up paddlers have occasionally been spotted in the Rhine in recent days - not only on the banks, but also in the middle of the river - the city expressly warns against pursuing this hobby at present. Without high water, this is not without risk. With the current high current speed and the amount of flotsam in the water, this is currently very dangerous.
Tidying up and cleaning work
Even before the turn of the year, the Rathenauufer and Brassertufer roads had already been cleaned of mud and other flood debris by Bonnorange and a specialist company commissioned to do so after the water receded. The clean-up work on the paths that were no longer affected has now also been completed. In view of the rising water level, the city administration has refrained from further clearing of paths close to the banks. Only in isolated cases have lawns been cleared of floating debris. This is because it is essential to avoid driving on soaked areas with vehicles, as this causes lasting damage to the soil structure.
The removal of storm damage to trees is also affected in some cases if the flooding does not permit rapid action. Safety measures are primarily carried out where there is still a risk. These are, for example, loose branches in treetops or trees that are no longer upright after a storm. A tree that is already upright is usually no longer a danger, which is why action is not always taken immediately in such cases.
Information by phone and on the Internet
Citizens are asked to call the Bonn fire department on 0228 - 7170 to report any damage. Up-to-date information on the Rhine floods can be obtained from the fire department's citizens' hotline on 0228 - 717171.
Further information on the subject of flooding with tips on prevention and the current level of the Rhine in Bonn can be found on the city's website at www.bonn.de/hochwasser (opens in a new tab).