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WEATHER

Summer ends as temperatures set to plunge this weekend

Anyone able to get outside on Thursday should enjoy the last hurrah of summer in Germany, as temperatures are set to drop dramatically heading into the weekend.

Published: 11 September 2008 12:40 CEST
Summer ends as temperatures set to plunge this weekend
Photo: DPA

Get out and go for a jog or take Fritz Jr. to the playground, because Thursday afternoon is likely to be the last day of the year with summerlike temperatures in much of Germany, according to meteorologists. Some parts of the country could hit highs of 28 degrees Celsius, but by Friday a high pressure system coming down from Scandinavia will bring a blast of cold.

“The weather situation will change dramatically this weekend and the last summer warmth will be a thing of the past,” said Michael Beisenherz from German weather service Meteomedia.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will arrive early Friday in the southern part of the country, but the northeast should remain sunny – if considerably cooler. Highs will range between 18 and 23 degrees, but gusty winds could make the day somewhat unpleasant.

Things will really start to feel like autumn on Saturday, as rain is expected across the Rhineland, Saarland and in much of Bavaria. The northeast will again be sunny, but temperatures will only reach 14 to 19 degrees.

Click here for The Local’s weather forecast.

WEATHER

Winter weather returns to Germany after spring heat spell

Temperatures in Germany almost hit 30C in the last few weeks. But winter-like weather is well and truly back - and ski slopes are even re-opening in some areas.

Published: 19 April 2024 12:42 CEST
Winter weather returns to Germany after spring heat spell

Many people in Germany will have already packed away their winter clothes as spring has seen high temperatures and lots of sun.

But a cosy hoody and jacket will be needed again.

According to the German Weather Service (DWD), a blast of polar air has been moving in bringing ice, rain and sleet that is turning to snow, particularly at higher altitudes. 

Those who want to take advantage of the winter weather can even get back on the slopes. Many ski resorts had to close early for the season – but a few are reopening. 

On Friday, the ski lift at Kandel in the Emmendingen district (Baden-Württemberg) opens for floodlit skiing from 6pm. to 10pm. If the snow remains, the lifts will also operate at the weekend from 9am to 5pm.

Meanwhile, the lift at Seebuck (Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district) is operating on Saturday from 1pm to 5pm.

‘Aprilschmuddelwetter’

Lower-lying spots have also seen hailstones and snow showers. People in Munich dealt with a flurry of snow on Thursday as temperatures fell. High temperatures ranged from 4C in Oberallgäu to 12C in Lower Franconia.

In a post on X, the DWD described it as Aprilschmuddelwetter – Schmuddelwetter translates to “mucky” or “foul weather” and is often used in Germany in spring when there’s lots of rain.

The DWD said: “April foul weather on Friday: Widespread rain, snow in high mountain areas. In the afternoon, partly heavy sleet showers from the north-west, isolated thunderstorms. In addition, stormy winds in places. Temperatures will barely reach double figures.”

The DWD shared a photo with tulips poking out from the snow in Neuhaus am Rennweg in Thuringia and said it was symbolic of the current weather situation.

The low pressure system moving in from the North Sea was bringing more widespread rain, thunderstorms and hail on Friday. 

In Berlin temperatures hovered around 7C on Friday during the day with continuous rain. It was around 5C in Erfurt and 8C in Kiel. 

In western Germany, it was slightly less cool with temperatures reaching 10C – but torrential rain was forecast. 

Changeable weather with showers was forecast on Saturday, while some sunshine in the north and east of Germany was expected on Sunday. 

At night, there is a risk of frost, ice and freezing rain in the coming days in spots where the temperature drops.

This comes after a series of storms and strong winds lashed the country earlier this week.

READ ALSO: Storms and high winds hit Germany

Just a few days before that, Germany was bathed in sunshine as temperatures climbed up to nearly 30C.

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