Following the storms, a nationwide heatwave ensues
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Meteorologist Björn Alexander warns: Not calm yet! After the tempestuous weather, we're in store for a noticeable improvement with intermittent heavy showers. But by Saturday, summer's energy returns, as per our beloved weather forecaster. Temperatures will soar above the 30-degree mark in certain locales. The scorching days might culminate in thunder and lightning again.
ntv.de asks, "What's responsible for the current weather shifts?"
Björn Alexander replies: Essentially, two factors play a significant role. Firstly, the short-term perspective, which is responsible for this week's second thunderstorm after the storms on Monday. Secondly, the long-term view of the weekend and the beginning of the next week - a period threatened by the most severe heatwave of the year so far. It's even conceivable that new record values up to about 40 degrees could surface.
The forecast? Today, stormy weather sweeps in from the west, strong to severe thunderstorms spreading across the country, intensifying in the afternoon, but with two areas particularly affected.
Storm Centers Location:
- From midday and into the afternoon, there's a heightened risk of storms from the Saarland to Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. That zone later shifts eastward, affecting the eastern federal states, like Berlin, too.
- The second storm-prone zone, from the Alps and the Allgäu to the Bavarian Forest - including Munich - initiates around midday or early afternoon.
Potential Hazards:Before the storms, the eastern parts of the country experience a high heat burden with rising temperatures upward of 33 degrees. Then, the storms follow - and they could be intense. Rainfall could reach up to 20 to 50 liters per square meter in a short span, increasing the likelihood of flooding.
Additional Risks:Airborne debris and lightning are also concerns with the thunderstorms, along with hail in heavy sizes and forceful gusts of wind, posing a risk of severe wind damage, with the most extreme wind gusts nearing 120 km/h.
Rest and Relaxation? On Friday, Saint John's Eve, the weather calms down a bit, with a mix of sunshine and showers, and temperatures between 20 and 29 degrees.
Good Omen for the Summer? The actual Saint Swithin's Day lies on July 7th. However, the Saint Swithin's Day rule, which may have a probability of up to around 70% in the south, pertains to a long-term directional shift, not the immediate weather pattern.
Summer's Return: Starting from the weekend, we're in for a summer rebound, marked by plenty of sunshine and rising temperatures. However, the cooler coastal regions will stay around 20 degrees, while temperatures will go up to 24 to 32 degrees in other regions, with hotspots along the Rhine and its tributaries potentially reaching 38 degrees or more.
New Records? The weekend's temperatures are expected to surpass the current year's peaks of 36 degrees. Compared to all-time records in June, up to and including Monday, only Bernburg on the Saale saw a high of 39.6 degrees in 2019. That was in the summer of '19, which set numerous records of 40 degrees and more by July's end.
Duration of the Heatwave: The exact length of the heatwave isn't certain yet, but it could persist through Tuesday or Wednesday at least. Given the circumstances, we're advised to prepare for a significant heat stress followed by intense storms accompanying the next weather shift. In short, there won't be many relaxing and calm weather periods in the upcoming days.
Source: ntv.de
- Weather
- Heatwave
- Synoptic Patterns
Enrichment Data Summary:For the upcoming weekend and early next week, Germany is expected to experience an unusually long and intense heatwave, with temperatures rising above 30 degrees Celsius for several days. The heatwave is a result of a persistent blocking high-pressure ridge, also known as a heat dome, occurring over western and central Europe, including Germany. This pattern causes surface temperatures to climb 8-12 degrees higher than typical for this time of year, reaching mid-30s Celsius across Germany by Thursday, with peak temperatures potentially continuing through the following days. The heatwave represents a long-lasting heatwave scenario due to the heat dome and associated high-pressure system maintaining hot and dry conditions that amplify heat stress. Although some European regions could experience extreme heat exceeding 40 °C, like southwestern France and parts of Central Europe near Hungary and Austria, Germany’s forecasted peak is lower but still exceptionally high for late June. During this time, the weather pattern features a dominant blocking high over Germany and western Europe, suppressing storm and precipitation formation, limiting storm activity over Germany to a minimum.
- The upcoming weekend and early next week in Germany is expected to see an intense heatwave, with temperatures surpassing 30 degrees Celsius, as a result of a persistent high-pressure ridge, or heat dome, over western and central Europe.
- The heatwave is expected to be long-lasting due to the heat dome and associated high-pressure system maintaining hot and dry conditions, amplifying heat stress in Germany.
