Emmanuel Thomas, DPA, Thursday, August 03, 2023
BERLIN – A rainy weather forecast continues to cloud Germany’s iconic Wacken heavy metal festival, as meteorologists on Thursday said rain should continue falling over the weekend.
Heavy rain had already turned the festival grounds and nearby roads in northern German farmland to mud, leading festival organizers to limit admissions.
Although rainfall in northern Germany will ease somewhat, a meteorologist from the German Weather Service (DWD) said that repeated showers and isolated thunderstorms are to be expected over the coming days.
Rainfall of 10 to 20 litres per square metre is forecast for Thursday. On Friday, the rain should then weaken to five to 10 litres per square metre, the meteorologist said.
On Wednesday, the rainfall per square metre had reached 15 litres within a short period of time, he said.
But lighter rain will hardly help the festival. The problem remains the soggy ground on the festival site which would need several clear days to dry, he said.
Only about 50,000 people from the 85,000 expected made it to the four-day festival, according to police estimates on Wednesday.
Fans who were not allowed on the grounds are eligible for refunds, according to festival organizers. Tickets cost just under €300 ($328).
The MetalDays festival in Slovenia offered free tickets to 500 fans with Wacken tickets who were turned away from the event.
