Storm chaos in rats: basement under water, tractor overturned!

Storm chaos in rats: basement under water, tractor overturned!

Ratten, Österreich - On June 1, 2025, the first heat day of the year was heralded with temperatures above 30 degrees in Styria. But these summer conditions also brought uncomfortable surprises. On Sunday afternoon, storm fronts rolled through the country, which in particular hit the western part of Styria and the east. The municipality of Ratten in the north of the Weiz district was particularly affected. According to the mayor Thomas Heim, the thunderstorms caused massive damage: flooded basement, scree masses, the streets blocked, as well as cars and devices torn out were just a few of the consequences.

The residents had to adjust to rivers and streams that were troubled by the banks, which destroyed some meadow areas. The fire brigades of Ratten, Fischbach and Falkenstein were in constant use to cope with the emergencies. An accident was tragic in which a 32-year-old farmer was seriously injured when his tractor slipped on the wet meadow and rolled over. Fortunately, the driver was able to free himself and was immediately taken care of.

weather forecast and dangers

The weather that was excited on Sunday is expected to continue on Monday. Temperatures up to 33 degrees are announced in the southeast and the risk of severe thunderstorms remains. There is the possibility for hail, especially in the mountain country. The current weather situation is part of a major problem: the European environmental agency warned of rising global temperatures and an increase in more common and more intensive extreme weather events. According to Europarl is expected to be the most warmest year in Austria, but in Austria, but in all of Europe has noticeable consequences.

Agriculture in particular has been severely affected: in the past three decades, almost 5.5 million people in the EU have affected floods that demanded more than 3,000 fatalities and caused damage at billions of bills. For example, the dramatic events in Germany and Belgium in 2021 could be seen as an example of the increasingly extreme weather conditions in Europe. The reports show that human activities, such as soil sealing and river guidelines, reinforce the floods, which, according to the WWF, speaks for an urgent need for action.

The connection with climate change

The connection between rising temperatures and extreme weather events is obvious. The latest report in Working Group I of the World Climate (IPCC) describes that the surface temperature of the earth increases more quickly than ever in the past 2000 years. Extreme weather events are increasing rapidly, and humans are the main cause of climate change. wwf emphasizes that the likelihood of heavy rain in Western Europe has increased many times over. Accordingly, an increase in extreme events will continue to be expected in the future, so that urgent measures are required to limit the earth's heating.

With this current thunderstorm, it becomes clear that the challenges that climate change brings with it are also on the front door. The affected communities and the entire region must adapt to possible further weather extremes and develop corresponding adaptation strategies. Whether on a political level or in personal action - climate protection must be at the top of the agenda in Austria and Europe.