bad weather strikes Germany's Rock Am Ring and USA's Governer's Ball

both event's cancel final day due to severe weather

By Scott Williams | Published: Mon 6th Jun 2016

Rock am Ring 2016

Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th June 2016
Mendig Airfield, Nurburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, The Netherlands MAP
189,50 euro (approx £140)

Daily capacity: 85,000

This weekend's Rock Am Ring in Germany at Mendig Airfield, and The Governors Ball Music Festival on New York City's Randall's Island were both cancelled due to severe weather last weekend.

The 31st edition Rock Am Ring was cancelled on the third and final day of the sell-out event after lightning hurt at least 80 fans. Organisers took the decision after local authorities revoked its licence early on Sunday morning when more bad weather was forecast. The music programme was halted on afternoon Saturday during continued thunderstorms, with festival goers having to shelter in cars and tents.

Across the Atlantic New York's Governors Ball was also cancelled on its final day due to bad weather, after weather forecasters predicted lightning strikes, hail, damaging wind gusts and flooding across the city.

American festivals have had a tough time of it so far this year, last month's Levitation festival also had the plug pulled before the gates could open due to safety concerns regarding dangerous weather, and possible flooding of the Colorado River. Some quarters of the American press called the event the first festival to be cancelled due to climate change.

In the past Bearded Theory in 2009 was hit by a tornado, and Wakestock 2012, Glade Festival in 2007 and Glastonbury Festival in 2005 were made memorable after being hit by flooding. But there have been relatively few recent festivals disrupted by bad weather in the UK. Last weekend's events enjoyed decent weather and let's hope that freak weather conditions cause no disruptions this summer.

discuss this news on the Festival Forums