Forecast for NRW: Anticipate initial winds, followed by warmth - Forecast for North Rhine-Westphalia: Initial gusts of wind followed by a warming trend
Get ready for a shift in the weather this week! On Tuesday, a low-pressure system forecasted by the German Weather Service (DWD) will bring some changes to North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). Cloudy skies are expected, with occasional light rain in the north and eastern mountains, while the southwest remains mostly dry. The wind will blow moderately from the southwest, with gusts sweeping in up to 55 km/h in the mountains and occasionally in the lowlands.
Temperature-wise, you can anticipate a range from 17 to 22 degrees, cooler in higher elevations around 15 degrees. As the day progresses, expect the clouds to break up in the north, leaving a few ragtag showers for the south. In the wee hours of the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, things will settle down as the last rain in the south dissipates, and fog may form locally. The mercury will drop to 10 to 6 degrees.
By Wednesday, dry skies with ample sunshine await you. Temperatures will rise to 20 to 25 degrees, with the sweltering heat west of the Rhine. In higher elevations, the thermometer will barely budge, reading out as 17 degrees. The wind will ease off in the evening, and the night from Wednesday to Thursday will be clear and chilly, with the temperatures dropping to 13 to 8 degrees.
Ah, but wait till Thursday! Summertime has officially arrived, with plenty of sunshine, high-level clouds, and warm to hot temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees. The wind will blow moderately from the east to southeast.
On the horizon for the weekend—brace yourself for a Tropical Night in some parts of NRW! Things might get steamy as temperatures refuse to dip below 20°C on Friday night, reaching a high of 28 to 33 degrees. The winds will be light, making the summer vibes even stronger. But don't worry—as the weekend concludes, the mercury will drop to a balmy 22 to 17 degrees.
NRW: A Rare Tropical Night Destination
On a side note, what's a tropical night? Traditionally, it's a night where the temperature doesn't fall below 20°C. North Rhine-Westphalia, while temperate, isn't generally renowned for tropical nights. However, climate change has been gradually nudging summers to be warmer and winters to be milder in the area[2]. As a result, you might stumble upon more hot days and heatwaves, mirroring the pattern in other European regions.
Heatwave Awaits
In a typical NRW summer, daytime temperatures can reach 25°C to 30°C, but the nights usually cool off, dropping to 15°C to 20°C. However, heatwaves caused by climate change have been causing spikes in temperatures, resulting in the possibility of more tropical nights[2]. Urban heat islands in cities like Cologne or Düsseldorf may experience even higher nighttime temperatures due to the urban heat island effect. So buckle up, folks—the heatwave is coming!
[2] Source: Overview of Climate Change Impacts on Germany (UBA, 2020)
The Commission has also been informed of the progress of the negotiations on the conclusion of the agreement related to the presence of hot weather and potential heatwaves in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), as highlighted in the Tropical Night phenomenon.
Moreover, the German Weather Service (DWD) has outlined weather-forecasting predictions for the upcoming Tropical Night, indicating that temperatures might not fall below 20°C in some parts of NRW, marking a departure from the typical weather patterns of the region.
