Skip to main content
Netherlands News in English

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Tornado
Tornado - Credit: Photo: Saperaud / Wikimedia Commons
Nature
weather
tornado
Germany
Viersen
North Rhine-Westphalia
Veiligheidsregio Noord-Limburg
Thursday, 17 May 2018 - 07:19

Share this article:

Video: Tornado tears through Germany, just missing Netherlands

A tornado caused a great deal of damage in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Wednesday. Around the city of Viersen, just across the border of Venlo, multiple homes lost roofs and numerous trees were blown over, NOS reports.

One person was seriously hurt in Viersen and a firefighter was hit by lighting. As far as is known, no one was killed. The tornado lasted almost 15 minutes.

The emergency services in the Netherlands received no reports about the tornado, a spokesperson for safety office Veiligheidsregio Noord-Limburg said to NOS. The Netherlands sees tornadoes once or twice a year. They are more common in Germany. This was the sixth tornado in Germany this year.

A violent wedge tornado near Viersen, Germany this afternoon, May 16th, 2018!! Video by Fabian Hallenga @ReedTimmerAccu @JimCantore @spann @breakingweather pic.twitter.com/mfJElC8D7W

— SWE | severe-weather.eu (@severeweatherEU) May 16, 2018

Another video of violent tornado near Lobberich, Germany this afternoon, May 16th, 2018! WOW! Video by Björn Wobedo pic.twitter.com/WhrL3xsxdA

— SWE | severe-weather.eu (@severeweatherEU) May 16, 2018

Die ersten Bilder erreichen uns gerade nach dem schweren #Unwetter aus dem Bereich #Viersen im #Niederrhein. Die Feuerwehr ist mit zahlreichen Kräften vor Ort. Häuserdächer wurden abgedeckt, Bäume prallten bei einem schweren Sturm auf Fahrzeuge. #Wetter #Tornado pic.twitter.com/hBY1XZL30c

— nrw-aktuell.tv (@nrwaktuelltv) May 16, 2018

More like this

Image
Clouds cover the skies above the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam, 14 May 2026
Minor tornado starts long weekend in Eersel; Chilly holiday expected
Image
A United Airlines flight on a snowy day at Schiphol Airport. 5 Jan. 2026
Schiphol to face "high delays" over snow removal & de-icing, but KLM hopeful
Image
A snowy Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner operated by KLM before departing Schiphol Airport for Dubai. 7 Jan. 2026
KLM warns of more "uncertainty" at Schiphol; Winter cancellations hit 300,000 people
Image
A German police car.
German police: minimal traffic disruption at border controls
Make NL Times your top Google source

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Three injured, two seriously, in Almere stabbing; Three arrested
  • 1-year-old boy left alone at Schiedam daycare after staff miss closing check
  • Severe thunderstorm warning upgraded in Netherlands; Tornado risk not ruled out
  • Woman gives birth on N44 highway in Wassenaar amid extreme heat
  • Netherlands records first regional super heatwave since 2020 as Ell hits 30.4 °C

Top stories

  • Netherlands records first regional super heatwave since 2020 as Ell hits 30.4 °C
  • Dutch government pushes EU ban on plastic-based chewing gum amid litter crisis
  • Video: 24-year-old man dies after drowning in Waal near Tiel
  • Terschelling sets Wadden Islands heat record with 33.6°C; Events canceled in Rotterdam
  • Severe Code Red heat warning extended through Saturday in several Dutch provinces

© 2012-2026, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Change Privacy Settings
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Partner Content