Euro 2024’s round of 16 could be disrupted by severe thunderstorms in Germany this weekend.
The knockout phase will begin on Saturday with Switzerland taking on Italy in Berlin, followed by a game between hosts Germany and Denmark in Dortmund.
Sunday will then see England face Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen, before Spain clash with Georgia in Cologne.
Of those matches, it is the game in Dortmund that is most likely to be played under heavy rain.
The Westfalenstadion also witnessed torrential rain during the Group F game between Turkey and Georgia on June 18, when water was seen falling violently from a gap in the roof of Borussia Dortmund’s home ground.
Multiple games in the round of 16 at Euro 2024 are expected to be played in wet weather
Some of the worst weather is likely to fall in Dortmund, where Germany are playing Denmark
Meteorologist Dominik Jung told BILD on Friday: ‘From Saturday evening and into the night on Sunday, there is a risk of severe thunderstorms from the southwest and west to the middle of Germany.
‘These could bring extremely heavy rain, with amounts of between 40 and 80 litres per square meter within a few hours.
‘Large hail with a diameter of around 3 cm is also expected, as are strong storm or hurricane gusts with speeds of between 100 and 140 km/h.
‘Tornadoes cannot be ruled out either.’
The storm should miss Berlin completely. Indeed, sunny skies are predicted for the opening game of the round of 16.
German and Danish fans going to the Westfalenstadion could get very wet this weekend
Much of central Germany is set to be affected by an incoming heavy storm on Saturday night
England’s game against Slovakia should escape with only light rain on Sunday evening
Light rain is predicted during the England game, while Spain vs Georgia in Cologne should stay dry despite overcast skies.
Although only one game is likely to be severely affected by the storm, fans and teams based in and around Dortmund, Cologne, Bonn, Paderborn and Hannover on Saturday evening are likely to get very wet.
