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WEATHER

The Local’s ultimate guide to summer in Germany

Whether you plan to pack your summer with extreme sports or spend it drinking beers in a Berlin park, we've got you covered in our comprehensive guide.

Published: 23 May 2016 10:54 CEST
The Local's ultimate guide to summer in Germany
Photo: DPA

As every lover of Germany knows, while the Central European winters can be brutal they're more than made up for by glorious summer.

With the warm weather comes a wealth of opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of the Federal Republic – or just to sit outdoors in a trendy part of town drinking Radler or cocktails.

Whatever it is that gets you out catching rays, there's one thing above all that will bring rewards in the German summer: planning!

So here are some of the things The Local journalists past and present think you shouldn't miss this summer – from boozing to bicycles:

1. Get a refreshing summer drink to slake your thirst

Photo: DPA

Litres of beer not your thing on a hot day? Fear not! It's perfectly acceptable to drink wine mixed with sparkling water or hyper-caffeinated ice tea instead – and there's plenty of other possibilities to explore…

2. Get wet and wild in the great outdoors

Photo: jkb / Wikimedia Commons.

Many Germans head off to Italy, Spain or the south of France to clash with Brits for the best sun loungers in the warmer months. We think they're missing a trick – there are endless lakes and sea beaches in the Federal Republic they could be enjoying instead.

3. Get on your bike

Photo: DPA

The Dutch and the Danes are famous for their cycling – but Germans put in a good effort to keep up with the neighbours with their thousands of kilometres of cycling trails. From the saddle you'll see sides of Germany you might never experience otherwise.

4. Get stuck into extreme sports

Photo: Alma/Wikimedia Commons

All that nature isn't just good for lying on or looking at. Adventurous people come alive in summer as suddenly the weather is perfect for feats of physical daring – whether on land, in the water, or up in the air.

5. Just get weird

Photo: DPA

Ok, ok – there are plenty of wholesome, family-friendly things you can do in the summer in Germany. But it wouldn't be the same if there weren't also opportunities to get naked or bring your lederhosen-clad toddler to the beer garden. These are just some of the most bizarre things Germans get up to in the summer.

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WEATHER

Germany hit by storms and high winds

After a night of thunderstorms and high winds that knocked down trees and delayed trains, wind warnings are still in place in much of Germany on Tuesday. The coming days are expected to bring cool temperatures and scattered showers.

Published: 16 April 2024 10:20 CEST
Germany hit by storms and high winds

The German Weather Service (DWD) is maintaining wind warnings across much of Germany on Tuesday following severe wind and rain storms that started Monday night.

Wind speeds are most intense in the south. Around Munich, the DWD predicts wind speeds around 65 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour can be expected in exposed locations, along with showers.

In the middle of the country the weather is similar with slightly less intense winds predicted. In Düsseldorf, winds up to around 55 kilometres per hour are predicted.

In the northern regions, no serious weather warnings are in effect.

Showers are also expected across much of the southern, western and northern regions in Germany on Tuesday. In the middle and eastern regions, such as around Erfurt or Dresden, skies are partly cloudy.

In the Upper Harz region, snow fell on Monday night and Tuesday morning. Unusually cold weather is expected to continue there through the weekend.

Looking forward, scattered showers will continue on Wednesday, but the sun can be expected to peek through across much of the country. Northern and eastern cities like Berlin and Hamburg can expect a bit more sun tomorrow, whereas cities in the south can expect a bit more rain.

A mix of sun and scattered showers can be expected to extend through Friday and Saturday, with high temperatures around 12C each day and low temperatures between 2C and 5C at night.

House with wrecked roof

The flat roof of an apartment building in Hesse was damaged by severe winds on Monday night. PHOTO: picture alliance/dpa/5VISION.NEWS | 5VISION.NEWS

Severe storms left trail of destruction

Thunderstorms, strong winds and widespread storms on Monday evening left carnage across Germany. 

Some train passengers experienced delays of four hours on while a number of routes were closed.

On Tuesday morning there are only major delays between Nuremberg and Erfurt, a railway spokesman said.

Tees and branches knocked down by severe gusts of wind caused a series of injuries and traffic disruption.

In Hesse, a motorist and her passenger were injured in a collision with a tree that had fallen due to the storm.The accident occurred on Monday evening in the city of Alsfeld. Both occupants of the car were slightly injured, the 20-year-old was taken to a hospital.

In Bottrop (North Rhine-Westphalia), a 19-year-old pedestrian was injured on her way home from work after a tree suddenly fell onto the sidewalk. The young woman’s legs were trapped under the tree trunk, according to the fire department. In Hattingen in the Ruhr area, a man was injured by a tree falling into a garden.

In Cologne, a city bus was damaged by a fallen tree. The driver was slightly injured and taken to hospital, the fire department said in the evening. Several fallen trees and bent branches hindered traffic in the city.

In Bavaria, three people in a car suffered serious injuries in an accident on the A9.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Koblenz police headquarters reported 10 cars in its region that had been damaged by falling trees or other objects. Electricity and telephone lines were also damaged by falling trees. In Ludwigshafen in the Palatinate, trees fell on roads and power lines. Loose roof tiles and fallen construction fences also triggered fire brigade operations.

With reporting by DPA

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