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WEATHER

Cold spell comes to Germany following heat wave

Following record heat of over 39C in June, Germany is recording new low temperature records. What will the following days bring?

Published: 5 July 2019 10:03 CEST
Updated: 5 July 2019 17:24 CEST
Cold spell comes to Germany following heat wave
Clouds forming in Windheim, Bavaria on Tuesday. Photo: DPA

Rotenburg (Wümme) in Lower Saxony recorded a record low July temperature of 2.9C on early Thursday morning, according to Wetter.com, breaking a station record which had stood since 1946.

The record low came only four days after Germany logged a record high June temperature of of 39.6C in Bernburg an der Saale in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday.

SEE ALSO: Storms forecast in Germany after record breaking heat wave

The dramatic dip can be attributed to cold polar air flowing to the south of the country, and staying stagnant in the centre.

Other central and eastern parts of Germany also logged chilly temperatures on early Thursday morning: Quickborn in northern Schleswig-Holstein saw its coldest recorded July temperature in 20 years at 4C. Göttingen also logged its lowest July temperature since 1996 (4C), and Friesoythe in Lower Saxony broke a low record set in 1971, also with 4C.

The village of Deutschneudorf in Saxony even had ground frost forming on Thursday morning. Such frost has only been recorded seven times throughout Germany during the month of July.

The cooler temperatures are slated to remain in Germany in the coming days. With low air pressure over northern Europe, the Bundesrepublik will be feeling cooler with denser clouds, sometimes gusty wind and a little rain, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). On Saturday, however, there will be particularly warm and sunny weather in the south.

Cooler Friday

Friday temperatures are slated to be pleasant and mild in central and south Germany, bringing in a mix of sun and clouds. The Mercury will rise between 24 to 30C, and the air will be dry.

But the north and east of Germany will be cloudy and even a little rainy, with the Mercury predicted to stay between 18 and 22C. Sweater weather will come to the coasts, with temperatures of 17C and a fresh breeze. 

Sunny and stormy Saturday

On Saturday temperatures of up to 31C will be felt around southern Germany. The air around the Alps will become more humid, causing strong thunderstorms to form in the afternoon. The rest of the country, however, should remain pleasant, with northern Flensberg set to stay at 18C and the rest of Germany hovering around a pleasant 25C.

Sunday and the coming week

Sunday will cool down a bit, with temperatures between 16 to 20C in most of the Bundesrepublik. The south, however, is expected to reach between 20 to 25C.

Rain showers and thunder will hit southern Germany in the morning, with a sunny afternoon in sight.

In the coming week, temperatures are expected to steadily increase, reported DWD. After a low point in the temperature on Monday (16 to 24C), the Mercury across Germany will steadily rise, but stay cool in the north and pleasantly warm in the south. 

A renewed heat wave is as unlikely after the long cool and rainy phase, said DWD, as it softens the dryness in the air.

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WEATHER

More rain forecast as storms hit western Germany

Severe storms and heavy rain affected parts of Germany on Thursday, creating disruptions. More rain is forecast on Friday but weather warnings have been lifted.

Published: 3 May 2024 09:53 CEST
More rain forecast as storms hit western Germany

Major storms hit western Germany on Thursday, causing travel disruption and flooding. 

In parts of Baden-Württemberg, streets were flooded and rivers swelled. Bisingen, southwest of Tübingen, was particularly hard hit, with cellars and streets plunged under water.

Police said there was also traffic disruption. In Baden-Württemberg’s state capital Stuttgart, severe storms and lightning caused issues and some roads were closed.

A lightning strike in the Sigmaringen area resulted in a broken signal box on the railway line. According to Deutsche Bahn, no train journeys were possible in the region in the early evening with several delays and cancellations.

Other states were also affected.

There were around 300 relief operations in the Ahrweiler district in Rhineland-Palatinate, which was hit by the 2021 deadly flood disaster.

Police said no-on was injured, although basements and streets were flooded. The water levels of the Ahr were being closely monitored.

Emergency services in Bisingen on Thursday.

Emergency services in Bisingen on Thursday. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Silas Stein

In Trier, too, streets were flooded after heavy rain and there were hailstorms. The Koblenz police headquarters reported fallen trees. Significant property damage due to full cellars and flooded streets was also reported in some areas. 

Heavy showers also fell in Hesse, accompanied by thunder storms. In Frankfurt, according to the fire department, the heavy rain caused water to enter the Bethanien Hospital and even reach the intensive care unit of the clinic.

“We were able to contain the damage relatively quickly and prevent it from spreading,” said fire department spokesman Thorben Schemmel, adding that no patients were affected.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Eifel region was particularly affected, with reports of flooded streets after heavy rain and hailstorms.

North Rhine-Westphalia also saw storms late in the afternoon on Thursday. 

The German Weather Service (DWD) said it expected some heavy rain and hail in parts of the country on Friday – particularly in the west – and at the weekend but warnings of severe weather have been lifted. 

The DWD said there could still be one or two strong thunderstorms in the northeast on Friday. However, it will be a significantly quieter day compared to Thursday. Temperatures of up to 25C can be expected.

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