Federal government expects Lake Constance level to rise over the weekend
Published: Friday, Jun 21st 2024, 15:10
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The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) expects water levels on Lake Constance to rise over the weekend. With a water level of 397.08 meters above sea level, the gauge in Romanshorn TG was around seven centimetres below the second-highest danger level on Friday afternoon. Preparations are being made to close the banks of the Rhine at Widnau SG.
"Danger level four is likely to be reached again on Lake Constance-Obersee in the next few days," wrote the FOEN in its natural hazard bulletin on Friday. Level four means "great danger" with regard to flooding. After a drop in water levels in recent days, they have recently risen again slightly, according to the FOEN.
The flood situation was particularly tense in mid-June in Berlingen TG on Untersee, the western part of the lake. In the village, lakeside promenades, parking lots and garden restaurants were under water. The water on the lakeside promenade has since receded, as Berlingen councillor Martin Järmann told the Keystone-SDA news agency when asked.
However, a row of parking lots by the lake is still under water. The cantonal road through Berlingen, which was temporarily closed due to heavy thunderstorms and overflowing streams, was reopened on Tuesday. Despite the predicted rainfall, Järmann was optimistic. The residents are familiar with the lake and know that "the matter is not over yet." Sandbags were still lying in front of some of the house entrances.
Preparations on the Rhine
On the Austrian side of the Rhine, the Rhine forelands were closed on Friday from Lustenau (A) at Wiesenrainbrücke to Lake Constance. This was announced by the International Waterway Authority on the Alpine Rhine (IWWA) on Friday afternoon.
The IWWA assumes that the forecast precipitation in the Alpine Rhine catchment area will cause the levels of the tributaries to rise during Friday evening and Saturday night. Preparations are currently underway to ensure that the Rhine forelands on the Swiss side can also be closed if necessary. Whether a closure will actually be necessary will be determined on Friday evening.
©Keystone/SDA
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