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WEATHER

Hitzewelle: This is how long the heatwave in Germany will last

For several days in a row, temperatures around Germany have been well over 30C. When will the heat let up?

Published: 12 August 2020 12:31 CEST
Hitzewelle: This is how long the heatwave in Germany will last
Sunflowers at sunrise in Munich on Wednesday morning. Photo: DPA

The weather in Germany continues to leave us all sweltering with temperatures up to 36C expected on Wednesday, as well as a few storms in some parts of the country.

And brace yourselves: the ‘Hitze’ is far from over. 

“What is striking about this heatwave is the endurance. At least until Wednesday one week from now, it will simply remain very hot,” said meteorologist Dominik Jung to the weather portal wetter.net. 

READ ALSO: Germany records hottest temperature of year as country braces for more heat

“And even after that it continues to be quite warm with flashes of extreme heat,” said Jung, adding that there are no signs of significant cooling down until August 21st. 

What's the outlook over the next few days?

In the northern and eastern parts of the country, the weather will remain sunny and dry throughout the day on Wednesday, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). 

In the west and along the Bavarian Alps, thunderstorms and lightning are set to strike throughout the day.

Tourists in Berlin seek out shade on Wednesday. Photo: DPA

The mercury will be the highest in the west and southwest of Germany; there temperatures are expected to climb to 36C on Wednesday.

At the sea it will become bit cooler with maximum temperatures of 25 to 30C.

READ ALSO: In Photos: This is what Germany looks like during the 'Hitze'

In Berlin, temperatures will stretch to 31C, in Frankfurt 34C, in Cologne 34C with scattered thunderstorms throughout the day, and in Munich 30C.

Thursday and Friday are similar: high temperatures of up to 36C will be met by heavy thunderstorms.

Consequences for nature

Already on Tuesday, storms had swept over larges parts of Germany, especially in the south.

Some roads were not passable due to fallen trees or landslides. In Bavaria, the Schweinfurt fire brigade was called 90 times in the evening because of the storm.

The heatwave also perpetuates the dry weather, said Jung, as there has not been enough rain throughout the year.

Germany is heading for an extreme drought for the third year in a row, with a risk of forest fires in many parts of the country, such as Berlin's neighbouring Brandenburg.

“It could hardly be worse,” said Jung. “And while everyone is cheering that it will be so beautiful in the summer, nature, forests and agriculture continue to suffer.

“The forest has already suffered a great deal of damage from the drought so far.”

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WEATHER

Germany gets a blast of Spring as temperatures top 20 C

Following a weekend of wintry weather in many parts of the country, temperatures climbed as high as 21 C in the Upper Rhine area of Germany on Monday.

Published: 13 March 2023 18:19 CET
Germany gets a blast of Spring as temperatures top 20 C

April is usually the month most known for large temperature fluctuations and unpredictable conditions. Now, however, it seems that March may have taken this spot in Germany.

That’s because, while parts of the north of the country saw snow and ice over the weekend, on Monday, sunshine and Spring temperatures appeared in the south as temperatures shot up to the mid-teens. In the Upper Rhine, the mercury even rose as high as 21 C.

The temperature rose in many northern areas too on Monday, as Berlin reached 16 C and Hamburg 14 C. 

According to climatologist Dr. Karsten Brandt of Donnerwetter.de, the current heat wave has come up from Spain “with a strong southwest current over France” to reach Germany.

READ ALSO: Current winter in Germany ‘2.7 C too warm’

However, Monday’s pleasant temperatures could be followed by some stormy weather on Tuesday, particularly in Bavaria and the coastal regions of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

Meteorologist Dominik Jung from wetter.net said that a “line of thunderstorms coming from France” could lead to heavy thunderstorms and that there is even an “increased risk of tornadoes”.

After the turbulent spell at the beginning of the week, Jung expects the temperatures to drop again and for wintry conditions to return.

“It starts all over again, the cold air masses stream into Germany, the whole thing is associated with really a lot of wind,” said Jung.

According to Guido Wolz of the German Weather Service, it’s not so unusual to experience a rapid change in weather in March.  “Currently, the weather situation is quite lively. But we must not forget that we are in the middle of a westerly wind zone in Central Europe,” he said. 

When do strong temperature differences in spring harm the natural world?

Wolfgang Kurtz, head of the DWD’s agrometeorological research centre in Freising, is not so concerned about the current, short-term temperature rises. “But if there are several days in a row at this time of year when such high-pressure conditions prevail, it can certainly disrupt the dormancy of vegetation – and give plants and insects the impetus to get going,” he said.

READ ALSO: More floods, droughts and heatwaves: How climate change will impact Germany

According to Kurtz, however, such sharp temperature fluctuations are not devastating until later in the spring, when, at around the end of April to mid-May, late frosts can severely damage crops by causing blossoms to die.

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