Deadly storm 'Eberhard' sparks travel chaos in Germany

A major storm dubbed "Eberhard" blew through much of Germany on Sunday, capping off a weekend of stormy weather. Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, was hit hardest, with winds uprooting trees and dislodging roof tiles.

Sunday's storm produced gale-force winds blowing up to 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph). A 47-year-old man was killed in northwestern Germany when an uprooted tree fell on his car while he was driving.

Gusting winds and damage from the storm prompted German rail operator Deutsche Bahn to halt rail traffic on several major routes in North Rhine-Westphalia. Long-distance trains and some regional trains were taken out of service, with many of the disruptions due to continue into Monday. Some trains were also stopped in the states of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Trees and branches toppled over onto highways and local roads, slowing traffic as emergency crews worked to remove the debris. Police also closed sections of the A45 after parts of a construction site began blowing across the road, local media reported.

Although "Eberhard" brought gusting winds and rain to western Germany, it also ushered in chilly temperatures and heavy snowfall in the northern city of Hanover. The German weather service also forecast snow for parts of southern Germany.

Firefighters in Frankfurt worked to secure the tin roof of a church after debris got caught on the steeple. In the city of Duisburg, a loading crane toppled into the Rhine River, but the driver's cabin was empty.