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WEATHER

‘Early spring’ to continue in Germany over weekend

According to the German Weather Service (DWD), this February weekend will be springlike - with temperatures in the two-digits around the country.

'Early spring' to continue in Germany over weekend
Crocuses bloom on a meadow in the Rhine Park in Düsseldorf on Friday. Photo: DPA

This holds especially true in the west and southwest, where the mercury could shoot up to 13 degrees on Saturday. Karlsruhe residents can make use of the country’s first outdoor swimming pool of the season, which opened on Friday.

SEE ALSO: Germany's first outdoor pool to open as temperatures reach 20C

On Friday, east of the Elbe river, temperatures were increasingly sunny in the afternoon. From Thuringia and Saxony to Bavaria, there was a bit of snow and drizzle. Skiers will be pleased to know that there’s a fresh layer of snow in the Alps.

Since a weather phenomenon known as “Frauke” is moving in with a fresh east wind, cold and dry mainland air prevails despite plenty of sunshine, according to meteorologists.

In the northeast of Germany, temperatures won’t rise above three to five degrees Celsius, and in the night to Sunday, some typically freezing February temperatures could occur.

However many people around Germany can let their guard, and winter jacket, down on Sunday. During the day and at the beginning of the week, it’s likely to be sunny and rather mild. 'Kaiserwetter' – or when barely a cloud is spotted in the blissful blue sky – will prevail in many parts of Germany.

SEE ALSO: German word of the day: Das Kaiserwetter

The temperatures should lie mostly between 9 and 14 degrees – and at the beginning of coming week, the mercury in west Germany could shoot up to a very pleasant 17 degrees.

“The spring seems to want to nest itself with us already one week before meteorological spring beginning,” said DWD Meteorologist Magdalena Bertelmann in view of these prospects.

For the meteorologists, spring will begin on March 1st. It’s official starting date in 2019 is March 20th.

'Wetter24' shows the temperature divide between east and much warmer west Germany on Friday.

It will follow a winter which was “too mild”, according to DWD.

“February was probably the eleventh month in a row that was too warm compared to the reference period,” said DWD spokesman Gerhard Lux.

Temperatures between 1961 to 1990 had stayed relatively similar, only fluctuating between 0.2 degrees. Yet this reference point had been exceeded by an average of about two degrees in December, January and February.

SEE ALSO: Spring in February? Winter temperatures as high as 15C to hit Germany

 

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WEATHER

Severe weather warnings issued as Germany braces for more storms

Extreme weather warnings for heavy rainfall remain in place in parts of Germany on Friday following flooding in the south. There is also a chance of thunderstorms at the weekend.

Severe weather warnings issued as Germany braces for more storms

Severe weather is expected in the southwest of the country on Friday, with the heaviest rain expected in Saarbrücken, as well as the surrounding areas of Saarland and southern Rhineland-Palatinate.

In these areas Germany’s weather service (DWD) has level 4 warnings in place – meaning that the rain is expected to be extremely heavy (more than 40 litres per square metre in an hour, or 60 litres per square metre in 6 hours).

Slightly less severe, but still heavy continuous rain can also be expected in the surrounding regions, extending as far as Stuttgart and Mainz.

Speaking to Bild newspaper, Climatologist Dr. Karsten Brandt suggested that the heavy precipitation and thunderstorms will continue to move northwest, even into southern North-Rhine Westphalia (Aachen).

There are also wind warnings in parts of the country, with squalls expected on the Brocken and the Fichtelberg mountains, as well as in the Black Forest and in the Alps.

Currently, the highest wind warnings are in Dresden and southern Bavaria near the Alps.

Friday’s weather warnings come in the wake of chaotic weather that flooded Nuremberg and parts of Bavaria Thursday night, where many roads flooded. Cars were submerged in water and bus routes were cancelled.

A number of household cellars also flooded as well as a large underground car park at the Technical University.

READ ALSO: Record heat deaths and floods – How Germany is being hit by climate change

What will the weekend bring?

Beyond the area of severe weather warnings but not beyond the reach of the storm, Cologne will have some rain on Friday which may continue on through the weekend.

Germany’s northern and eastern regions have dodged the recent bout of storms so far, but in Berlin scattered thunderstorms can be expected to move in by Sunday afternoon. This may put a dampener on the Karneval der Kulturen parade. 

In Bremen and Hamburg, residents can expect some rain showers on Sunday and Monday, with a chance of thunderstorms as well.

In Munich and Nuremberg, it looks as if the worst is over. Some small showers may continue into Saturday, but Bavarian residents can look forward to a sunny Sunday ahead of the public holiday on Monday for Pentecost. 

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