- Cooling Rainstorms Send Temperatures Plummeting by as Much as 40 Degrees
In a scorching European summer, southern countries are battling severe wildfire risks due to extreme heatwaves exceeding 40°C, while Germany and other northern regions are experiencing elevated heat with localized fire incidents but not the same level of wildfire emergency.
A massive fire in farmland and bush in Spain has claimed two lives and destroyed over 5,000 hectares of land, equivalent to around 7,000 football fields. Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal are under severe wildfire risk due to heatwaves surpassing 40°C, with many local authorities issuing fire warnings and restrictions. Portugal, for instance, has declared two-thirds of its territory on high alert because of the heat and wildfire risk, with Lisbon temperatures exceeding 42°C.
In Greece, a large forest fire south of Athens caused evacuations and property damage, with significant firefighting efforts ongoing. Other southern countries have banned certain outdoor activities during peak heat to mitigate fire risks and protect public health.
In contrast, Germany is facing an elevated but not the highest forest fire danger level. A recent wildfire in Dresden, Saxony, affected about one hectare of forest but is mostly under control. German regions are experiencing historic heatwaves with predictions of temperatures reaching up to around 40°C in some areas, contributing to increased fire risks. However, no nation-wide extreme fire danger status similar to southern Europe has been reported.
Central and northern Europe, including parts of Germany and France, face heat warnings but mainly focused on heat health impacts rather than extreme wildfire emergencies. Regions like Berlin and southern Germany are taking water conservation measures and have heightened heat alerts, but widespread forest fire danger is not as severe as in southern Europe.
As of early July 2025, the forest fire danger level in Germany is moderate to elevated. Heavy thunderstorms are expected in northwest Germany in the afternoon, with gusts of storm force not ruled out during the thunderstorms. On Wednesday, Germany could see a new temperature record, surpassing the preliminary measurement of 37.8 degrees in Bavarian Kitzingen. However, cooler maritime air is expected to bring lower temperatures in the coming days, with a drop of more than ten degrees compared to the heat peak on Wednesday.
France is also experiencing a heatwave, with two deaths reported due to heat-related issues and more than 300 people treated by emergency services. In the night from Wednesday to Thursday, heavy thunderstorms are expected in Mecklenburg and the western Baltic Sea.
The German Weather Service (DWD) is responsible for issuing weather warnings and reports in Germany, and they have reported that the forest fire danger level in Germany increases again on Wednesday, with the highest danger level reported in Brandenburg, Bavaria, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Saxony-Anhalt, and a high risk of forest fires almost everywhere else in the country.
In conclusion, southern European countries are currently at the highest forest fire danger levels due to ongoing extreme heatwaves, while Germany and other northern parts of Europe are facing elevated heat with localized fire incidents but not the same level of wildfire emergency. It is crucial for everyone to stay vigilant and follow local fire safety guidelines during this challenging time.
Despite the anticipated heavy thunderstorms in northwest Germany, the commission's proposal for a Directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation becomes particularly relevant, given the increased fire risks and the potential need for decontamination efforts in the aftermath of wildfires. Credible weather-forecasting, therefore, plays a crucial role in mitigating the risks associated with these heatwaves and the subsequent fire incidents.
