SHARE
COPY LINK

WEATHER

Warm, slushy Christmas in store for Germany

Most Germans will likely have to do without a white Christmas this year, with the German weather service (DWD) predicting unseasonably mild temperatures. Some predictions even foresee 19 degrees Celsius in the south west.

Warm, slushy Christmas in store for Germany
Photo: DPA

A clash of high- and low-pressure weather fronts will likely lead to a chilly weekend followed by unusually high temperatures over the Christmas holidays, the DWD reported on Friday.

“Ninety-nine percent of people in Germany will probably have a green Christmas,” a DWD meteorologist said. The only part of the country guaranteed snow on Christmas Day will be the top of its highest mountain, the Zugspitze in Bavaria.

Click here for The Local’s weather forecast

On Saturday, the north east of the country will be frosty, while the south west will see mild temperatures of 10 degrees. There is also a good chance of precipitation across the country, either in the form of sleet or rain, which could form black ice at night.

Sunday will bring warmer temperatures around Germany – though they will be accompanied by rain and strong winds.

The north east will be the last area affected by the mild weather, and snow is likely to fall there on Sunday, only to turn to rain during the night. Again, roads are likely to be slippery on Christmas Eve – with temperatures reaching a balmy 15 to 19 degrees in the south and south west.

The weather will then continue to be mild throughout Christmas and towards the New Year, with rainfall and temperatures above zero everywhere. That could lead to higher water levels in Germany’s rivers, though it remains unclear whether these will be high enough to cause flooding. The Danube and Neckar rivers are expected to be worst affected, though the Rhine and Main in the west will also rise.

The Local/bk

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

WEATHER

Spring to arrive in Germany with temperatures of up to 21C

The moment many people around Germany have been waiting for is almost here: as of Thursday, temperatures are expected to crack the 20C mark and stay warm through the start of spring.

Spring to arrive in Germany with temperatures of up to 21C

Whether it’s the pink cherry blossom trees which have started to bloom, lighter evenings or people walking around with ice cream cones, the signs of springs have already started to show around Germany in March.

Now the weather is also catching up: following rain storms on Wednesday, the mercury is expected to reach at least 20C in many parts of the Bundesrepublik on Thursday. 

READ ALSO: Seven signs that Spring has arrived in Germany

First there’s some damper news: On Wednesday, Germany – in particular the southwest – is expected to be hit by the storms. In the Black Forest, 30 to 40 litres per square metre will fall by midday, according to the German Weather Service (DWD).

In the Alps, light snowfall will set in above 1,000 to 1,200 metres, with fresh snowfall of around five centimetres expected. 

The rain will ease by the following morning, but it will remain cloudy.

Up to 21C on Thursday

On Thursday, after the morning the fog disappears, people can look forward to a sunny and dry day – especially in the south and western parts of Germany. 

Temperatures will rise to a pleasant 14 to 21C degrees, with the highest values on the Upper Rhine. 

In mountainous areas and by the sea, it will remain somewhat cooler at 10C to 14C. 

Friday will be characterised by changeable weather: there will be sunny spells as well as rain showers, which will spread from the west and may be heavy in places – including thunderstorms. 

Temperatures will be between 14C and 18C degrees, and in the Lausitz region in eastern Germany it could even reach a warm 20 degrees.

Warmer weeks

While this Sunday could still see some single digit temperatures in northern parts of Germany – such as 9C in Berlin and Hamburg – the coming week is set to experience continually warmer weather, remaining at 14C and higher. 

The first day of spring officially begins this year with the Spring Equinox on March 19th. The days will become even lighter in Germany after Daylight Savings Time, which this year takes place in the early hours of Easter Sunday, or March 31st.

READ ALSO: Everything that changes in Germany in March 2024

SHOW COMMENTS