Harsh Thunderstorms Loom Over South Germany
Severe weather alert issues for the Southern regions - Severe storms lashing the southern regions
Get your umbrellas ready, folks! Severe thunderstorms are barreling towards eastern Baden-Württemberg and southern Bavaria, starting in the late afternoon. As per Marco Manitta from the German Weather Service (DWD) in Offenbach, we're in for a wild weather ride with 'Storm Tim.' This uninvited guest promises a stormy Pentecost weekend.
Despite being anchored over the North Atlantic between Iceland and Scotland, this tempestuous system manages to reach Central Europe, thanks to an extended network of associated frontal systems spanning across Germany. This split personality in the atmosphere, dividing cooler northern air from steamy, humid, and electrifying southern air, lays the groundwork for a "severe thunderstorm situation" in the southeast and parts of the east.
Brace yourself for hail, lightning, and gusts that could rival a hurricane. On the morning radar, a squall line interspersed with thunderstorms has been trudging northeast, and the big leagues are due to roll in around lunchtime. A series of heavy thunderstorms will brew and scoot eastward, with a particular focus on southern Germany. Beware, the DWD forecasts severe thunderstorms from the afternoon onwards, bringing downpours, colossal hail, and fierce storms or even hurricane-force winds!
Now, in the southern Alpine foothills, things get a bit tricky. Here, a phenomenon known as a föhn breakdown can occur, causing winds to suddenly pick up to storm speed without any warning, even without a thunderstorm in sight. You better keep a close eye on the southern Bavarian lakes, sailors – winds like these can sweep you off your feet!
Unfortunately, those in the northwest have little to expect apart from pleasant temperatures and an agreeable mix of sunlight and clouds. On Thursday, the weather will become noticeably more troubled, with diminishing sunshine and heavy, darkening skies. Expect occasional showers and thunderstorms, but nothing too serious.
Weekend Weather – A Cool and Blustery Affair
The roller coaster ride will continue into the weekend, as low-pressure systems bring rain and showers, with the odd thunderstorm. Temperatures will dip, with only the eastern regions warming up to a mild 20°C on Pentecost Sunday. To sum it up, as Manitta sums it up, "We're in for a cool, windswept, and unpredictable weekend, with Mother Nature playing hard to get." But don't worry, the clouds will part ways on Pentecost Monday.
Wildcard Weather Words: Thunderstorm, Germany, Bavaria, Offenbach, Storm, Marco Manitta, Iceland, Scotland.
Extra Bits of Knowledge:
- Severe Convective Wind Gusts: These gusts are expected in regions with Level 1 warnings, including parts of Germany.
- Large Hail: While primarily a concern for areas with Level 2 or Level 3 warnings, there is the potential for large hail in regions with Level 1 warnings.
- Tornadoes: A lesser risk, but tornadoes may form in areas with Level 1 warnings, like certain parts of Germany.
- Excessive Convective Precipitation: This can lead to flash flooding, particularly in regions with higher warning levels.
- Föhn Breakdown: This sudden intensification of winds, often occurring in the southern Alpine foothills, can catch even the most weather-wise off guard.
In the midst of the stormy weather forecast, the German Commission might take necessary measures to protect the environment, adopting implementing acts that lay down the rules for the application of regulations concerning severe thunderstorms active over South Germany, such as those affecting Bavaria and the areas around Offenbach. One area of specific concern is the southern Alpine foothills, where a possible föhn breakdown could occur, which is a dramatic increase in winds that is typically unexpected and can be quite devastating, much like the intense thunderstorms themselves.
