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WEATHER

Germany to see temperatures up to 30C following stormy week

After a stormy week in Germany, the mercury is set to spike on Saturday, possibly bringing record highs to the Bundesrepublik.

Published: 4 April 2024 12:01 CEST
Wismar
A woman takes a photo of cherry blossom trees in Wismar on Thursday during a break from the rain. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jens Büttner

At the weekend people in Germany can pack their heavy rain coats and boots away and replace them with summer sandals and attire.

But first, they can brace themselves for more grey skies and rainy weather: Thursday kicked off with heavy clouds, and thunderstorms and heavy showers are likely to develop in the afternoon with a maximum of 13 to 17C around the Bundesrepublik, according to the German Weather Service (DWD).

DWD also warned of strong to stormy gusts – first in the mountains and then in the afternoon at lower altitudes. Stronger showers could even bring powerful wind squalls with speeds of up to 85 kilometres per hour. 

But the storms will gradually subside at night, according to DWD.

Friday is set to be clear yet cloudy with the mercury reaching a maximum of 19 to 23C. Thicker clouds will gather again in the afternoon. There could be light rain and isolated showers in places. 

Unusually warm weekend 

According to the DWD, it will be dry and unusually warm at the weekend. 

Saturday is set to be bright to sunny with the mercury climbing  to a maximum of 25 to 30C. Sahara dust – still present from the previous weekend – could cloud the sunshine somewhat.

READ ALSO: Saharan dust cloud hangs over Germany

According to DWD, the weather already marks an far-above average high, with typical temperatures usually ranging from 10 to 14C at the beginning of April.

Particularly warm air is moving in from western Germany, with southern Germany in particular set to sizzle. Freiburg could crack the 30C mark as could some parts of Bavaria, reported Weather.com.

“This has never happened before,” said meteorologist Michaela Koschak.

The previous record for high April temperatures was set in 2018, which could now be surpassed.

This February and March already marked the warmest months in Germany in recorded history. Last month saw an average temperature of 7.5C, or 4C higher than what was recorded in an international reference period.

According to the forecast, Sunday will only be slightly cooler with temperatures up to 26C and mostly clear skies. However, there could be showers in north-western Germany in the afternoon.

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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.

Published: 17 May 2024 10:37 CEST
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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