Heat Wave Brings Soaring Temperatures and Elevated Fire Danger
Forest dryness under the sun's rays escalates the likelihood of forest blazes. - Favorable, sunny, and dry conditions heighten the danger of forest fires.
Brace yourself for a warm and dry week ahead, folks! The German Weather Service (DWD) predicts a continuation of sunny, toasty weather across Germany, with rain nowhere in sight until at least Thursday. On Monday, scattered cumulus clouds may cast a shadow or two, with denser cloud formations possible in the Black Forest and Alps, accompanied by isolated showers and thunderstorms. The mercury will climb to temperatures ranging from a cool 16°C in the northeast to a steamy 25°C in the west, with a fairly chilly 13°C forecasted at the Baltic Sea due to an onshore breeze.
Fire danger on the rise: Map highlights the risk
As the weeks turns to Tuesday, we're looking at more of the same, with temps rising to levels reminiscent of early summer (16 to 24°C). Sadly, the dry weather plaguing Germany means that forest fire risk is on the upswing. The DWD rates forest fire danger on a five-level scale. Take a gander at the animated graphic in this article to see just how dramatically the risk rating skyrockets in some areas of northeastern Germany. But that's not all—many other regions will also have at least a medium forest fire risk of level 3.
Wednesday's weather brings more of the same—dry and sunny. Things may change a bit on Thursday, with cloudy skies blanketing the eastern regions and eventually the southeast, accompanied by a smattering of localized rain.
Check out our photo gallery to compare today's weather to the '70s—despite popular sentiment, modern conditions are nothing like they were back then, and the data points to some intriguing insights about the future.
Insights:
- Historic Drought: Germany has grappled with an exceptionally dry spell from February to April 2025, with rainfall significantly below the average for that period. It's no surprise, then, that vegetation and soil are less than optimally moist and primed for combustion[1].
- Rainfall Outlook: The DWD predicts minimal precipitation in the near future, which means the dry conditions will persist. Any rainfall when it does come will likely be concentrated and insufficient to alleviate the drought in most areas[3].
- Forest Fire alert levels: Large swaths of Brandenburg and several other regions are facing high forest fire risk, with some areas flirting with the highest danger level of 5. The lack of moisture only amplifies this risk[4].
- Bonfires and Fire Bans: Such high forest fire risk has led to the cancelation of Easter bonfires in some regions, with local authorities prepared to enforce fire bans if conditions don't improve[3].
- Climate Change and Long-term Trends: The ongoing drought and escalated forest fire risk are intertwined with broader climate trends, calling for forward-looking prevention strategies[2].
Given the dry conditions, scattered rainfall, and elevated forest fire danger levels, the upcoming days promise to be a particularly challenging time for firefighters in Germany.
The Commission, amidst the ongoing heat wave and elevated fire danger, has also been consulted on the draft directive on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in environmental-science, considering the potential impact of climate change on extreme weather events. It's crucial for scientists to understand and predict the effects of climate change on disasters like these, as the current situation in Germany could serve as a case study for future climate-change research.
