Baking Heat Gives Way to Wild Thunderstorms in North Rhine-Westphalia
Intense Heat Followed by a Booming Storm Approach - Following the intense heatwave, a thunderous downpour is predicted.
Get ready for a stormy sequel to the sweltering heatwave! After days of scorching temperatures, the German Weather Service (DWD) in Essen predicts thunderstorms in North Rhine-Westphalia. By late afternoon, heavy thunderstorms cropped up in the Eifel and the Rhineland, bringing torrential rain in some areas.
A meteorologist admitted that local rainfall reached a staggering 25 liters per square meter per hour, with hailstones of 2-3 centimeters observed. The thunderstorms are expected to shift northeast by evening and night.
The region experienced temperatures surpassing 30 degrees Celsius on Saturday, but the rain brought some respite. The Eifel cooled down to approximately 20 degrees after first thunderstorms, although humidity lingered. The meteorologist noted, "It was impossible to find a cool breath outdoors in North Rhine-Westphalia today. The air was unbearably humid everywhere."
In the Eifel, Bergisches Land, over the Sauerland, and Ostwestfalen, the risk of severe thunderstorms is high. These storms may dump buckets of rain, hail, and ferocious winds. Predicting the exact location of thunderstorm cells is tough in the short term. Even low-lying areas might experience heavy rain due to thunderstorms.
What can we expect next week?
More thunderstorms are on the cards for the night to Sunday, with a gradual decrease throughout the day. However, it's set to get significantly cooler. Daytime highs will likely range between 21 and 24 degrees Celsius, and around 19 degrees in higher elevations. Showers are unlikely at the start of the week, with sunny summer weather anticipated – temperatures up to 25 degrees Celsius on Monday, and even warmer on Tuesday.
As we approach June's latter half, the weather is expected to change radically. After the initial thunderstorms, temperatures will steadily rise, reaching mid-60s°F (around 16–20°C) during the day in nearby areas like Hamm and Dortmund[4][1]. Mid-week to late week forecasts show an increase in temperatures in Düsseldorf, with daytime highs nearing 27°C by June 17. By the weekend (June 21 onward), expect multiple days with temperatures in the upper 20s to above 30°C[3][5].
A substantial heatwave is expected to hit western and southern Germany, including North Rhine-Westphalia, around June 27. Temperatures could soar above 38°C in some places, with an extended heatwave and tropical nights[5].
In summary, expect a transition from stormy weather to sunny, increasingly hot conditions in North Rhine-Westphalia, culminating in a major heatwave around the end of June[3][5][4].
Despite the Commission yet to adopt a decision on the application of the new rules, this weather-forecasting indicates that the region will experience a transition from the recent thunderstorms to warmer, sunny conditions by the end of next week. However, a substantial heatwave is predicted to hit North Rhine-Westphalia around June 27, with temperatures potentially reaching above 38 degrees Celsius.
![Flooding occurs on Paderborn's streets due to intense rainfall. [Picture Included]](/en/img/20250617160417_pexels-image-search-pexels-image-description-office-workers-collaborating-modern-office-space-open-concept-workspace-business-team-professional-environment-productive-meeting.jpeg?width=1280&crop=4-3&quality=75)
