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Storm warning service on Bavarian lakes; organization

On larger Bavarian lakes, water sports enthusiasts are warned of strong winds and storms with visual warning signals or in other ways.

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Landratsamt München

Landratsamt München

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Mariahilfplatz 17
81541 München

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Postfach 90 07 51

81507 München

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Procedure details

As a water sports enthusiast, you will be warned of strong winds and storms on the following Bavarian lakes with visual warning signals or by other means:

  • Ammersee, Starnberger See and Wörthsee
  • Staffelsee, Riegsee and Walchensee
  • Tegernsee, Schliersee and Simssee
  • Chiemsee and Waginger-Tachinger See
  • Forggensee
  • Altmühlsee, Igelsbachsee, Kleiner Brombachsee, Großer Brombachsee and Rothsee

This is usually done using storm warning lights.

To warn of strong winds, orange flashing lights with 40 flashes per minute are used; this occurs at a wind force of 6 and 7 Beaufort. The strong wind warning is intended to make water sports enthusiasts aware of the danger and encourage them to carefully monitor the development of the weather and adjust their behavior accordingly.

The storm warning, which is issued from a wind force of 8 Beaufort, is issued by flashing orange lights at 90 flashes per minute. The storm warning is intended to prompt water sports enthusiasts to take all precautionary measures immediately and seek shelter from the wind or the shore. In the event of a storm warning, radio announcements are also made.

The storm warning service is characterized by the cooperation of various authorities and agencies. In particular, the responsible safety authority, the police, the German Weather Service (Munich Regional Weather Advisory Service) and the integrated control centers are involved; storm warning commissions can also be formed.

The storm warning service is a task of the safety authorities, i.e. the responsible district administrative authority or the municipality if a lake is located exclusively on its territory.

The responsible district administrative authorities and municipalities must ensure the organization of the storm warning service, in particular they must provide and maintain the necessary storm warning equipment.

In addition, the safety authorities should also set up storm warning commissions consisting of people who monitor local weather developments on their behalf and are available as contacts for the German Weather Service, Munich Regional Weather Advisory Service.

The German Weather Service, Regional Weather Advisory Service Munich, is generally responsible for issuing storm warnings and giving the all-clear. It

  • initiates the triggering of strong wind and storm warnings and their all-clear by the responsible integrated control centers (ILS),
  • arranges for radio announcements in the event of a storm warning,
  • informs the operations centers of the police headquarters,
  • informs the safety authorities/storm warning commissions.

After receiving the warning from the German Weather Service, the Integrated Control Center triggers the storm warning systems (strong wind or storm warning). Once the all-clear has been given by the German Weather Service, the integrated control center terminates the strong wind or storm warning.

The police support the safety authorities in carrying out their duties. In particular, it sends reports to the German Weather Service, Munich Regional Weather Advisory Service, about changing weather conditions and monitors the operation of the storm warning lights.

The storm warning service is generally operated from April 1 to October 31 from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. However, the storm warning service at Walchensee starts on March 1st and at Forggensee on May 1st.

Status: 07.11.2024
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium des Innern, für Sport und Integration
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