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Local Germany
4 days ago
- Climate
- Local Germany
'We've been robbed': Will Germany get any summer weather this year?
If summer 2025 in Germany were a perfume, it's key notes would be cloud, fine rain and cool temperatures, with just a hint of storm. Before looking at whether the experts have scented something better in the future – and if we can all expect to find ourself bathing in glorious sunshine over the next few weeks – there is an important point to make first. Advertisement We've been robbed Not only because winters in Germany tend to be grey and endlessly long and we need all the sunshine we can get, but because we were misled! Numerous meteorologists and weather models predicted that a stable high-pressure system might develop over Europe, bringing consistent hot and dry weather this summer. High-pressure systems operate like big bubbles of warm, dry air, blocking out rain and unsettled weather, and allowing sunshine to dominate and temperatures to rise. It's the kind of pattern responsible for classic summer weather with lots of sun and temperatures above 30C. That's what we were led to expect. But in actuality Germany has seen an endless series of low-pressure systems - which lead to cloud formation and rain - while the southern parts of Europe are being cooked . READ ALSO: Eight amazing German museums to explore this summer Repeated low-pressure zones have brought rain, clouds, and cooler temperatures to Germany since early July. This weather pattern is often called a "west weather pattern" because the systems come in from the Atlantic Ocean to the west, pushing unstable, wet weather and cooler air across Central Europe. Adding insult to injury, the experts appear reluctant to acknowledge how bad the weather has been. Advertisement Prominent meteorologist Andreas Machalica, in comments made to SWR , actually described this year's summer as 'relatively average' in terms of sunshine and temperature, dominated by a "typical West weather pattern" common for Central Europe. Is the cool weather here to stay? Despite the distinctly mixed start to the summer, there is still hope for August and September, according to the experts. Meteorologist Dominik Jung thinks the weather will become noticeably warmer during the first week of August. In the second week, he says we can expect ' high summer temperatures ' above 30C in some regions. Andreas Machalica thinks 'there's still a really good chance August will see some sunny days.' Until August 10th, the German Weather Service (DWD) is forecasting cooler temperatures and rain showers for much of Germany. Although warmer weather is anticipated to gradually arrive in around mid-August, with less rain and temperatures potentially rising to around 30C in the second half of the month. READ ALSO: Where in Germany residents have been forced to move by extreme weather It's worth noting, however, that to predict the weather experts essentially make an educated guess based on the best real-time data that they have. Therefore weather predictions become increasingly unreliable the further in the future they look. Given the previously unforeseen weeks of grey skies and rain that Germany has seen, the tone of these weather forecasts read almost hopeful rather than confident. As much as I'd like to, I won't be putting my cagoule away just yet.
Local Germany
16-07-2025
- Climate
- Local Germany
Summer storms continue in Germany as expected heatwave falls away
Germany had been bracing for its next heatwave, but a sudden shift means you should keep your rain jacket handy instead. Since mid-Tuesday several regions in Germany have been hit by severe storms including parts of Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin and Brandenburg. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue across much of Germany on Wednesday, with particularly heavy rain expected in the eastern half of northern Bavaria, according to the German weather service (DWD). As of about 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the DWD has wind warnings in place across the southern half of Germany, and thunderstorm warnings in in place in the west from Düsseldorf to Hanover, west of Berlin in Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg, and in places along Germany's southern border. Th forecast for Thursday is to begin with heavy thunderstorms in the southeast in the early hours. But then the weather is expected to calm somewhat with dry, party cloudy conditions in many regions through most of the day and high temperatures in the 18 to 24C range. The north-eastern section of the country can expect mostly cloudy conditions with some scattered showers on Thursday, whereas the south-west can expect clear to partly-cloudy skies and drier conditions. Conditions are expected to get gradually drier and warmer on Friday and Saturday. In the north-east isolated showers and brief thunderstorms may continue through Friday, but are expected to have mostly cleared up by Saturday, which may prove to bring sunny summer conditions. In the south-west sunny, dry conditions are expected as early as Friday with temperatures up to 30C in some places. However, the warm, sunny weather may not last long as further storms and cool weather could move up from the south and southwest toward central parts of the country on Sunday night. Possible heavy rain events on the horizon In a weather report by meteorologist Dominik Jung warned about the possibility of potentially dangerous rain events in the near future. Specifically, the meteorologist suggests there are signs of a potential "Vb" weather situation brewing. Vb weather conditions refer to a pattern seen specifically in Europe. The term was coined by German meteorologist Wilhelm Jacob van Bebber in 1891 to describe a low pressure system that moves toward the Mediterranean Sea before turning north towards Germany and/or the Czech Republic, Poland and Scandinavia. Advertisement Warm, humid conditions in the Mediterranean can super-charge storms, allowing a large amount of water to be absorbed which is later dropped (sometimes quickly) over central Europe. This kind of weather pattern caused flooding in southern and eastern parts of Germany in June 2024 . READ ALSO: Where in Germany do homeowners face the greatest flood risk? With water temperatures in the Mediterranean currently four to five degrees warmer than the long-term average for this time of year, conditions could be ripe for a potential massive rainfall event in Germany. Advertisement Jung wrote that "Initial model calculations show a possible 100 to 200 litres of rain per square the Alpine region to the Ore Mountains and up to the Baltic Sea". However, a severe rain event is far from certain at the moment. Meteorologists will continue monitoring the situation over the coming days.
Local Germany
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Local Germany
Inside Germany: Summer heatwaves, budget changes and Bavarian sea monsters
Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in Germany that you might've missed. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article. Having made it to the other side of a monstrous heatwave, people in Germany can look forward to significantly milder weather in the coming days – including some scattered showers over the weekend and temperatures in the low to mid 20s in many places through the weekend. But of course there will be more heatwaves to come this summer, and then even more in the summers to follow. In fact, meteorologist Dominik Jung (whose forecasts often pop-up in German media) suggests the next one is just around the corner – starting from next Thursday, July 10th. So in case you missed some of our practical heat-related coverage this week, you may want to brush up on the rules around working during heatwaves , when exactly German schools close due to heat, and what to know about installing air conditioning in your home. Children play in a fountain at Munich's Karlsplatz square during the heatwave. (Photo by Michaela STACHE / AFP) Budget squabbles An interesting, and often overlooked, aspect of extreme weather events is how often they tie directly into economics, and even seemingly inconsequential budget decisions. A more obvious example was seen this week in the direct impacts of the high temperatures, including a highway buckling in the heat, rail disruptions and forest fires. Allianz Research suggested the July heatwave will cause the loss of 0.1 percent of Germany's GDP growth this year. READ ALSO: School closures to rail chaos - What happens when Germany is hit by extreme heat Advertisement But there's a more subtle connection to be found in the federal government's latest budget update. This week leaders of the conservative Christian Union parties (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) held talks on details related to their plans for tax cuts and pensions. In the end they announced that they didn't have the finances to scrap electricity taxes for German households after all. (You can read more about what changes were agreed and how they might affect you here .) An under-reported aspect of the government's decision to scrap that tax cut is its climate implications. While the black-red will government no longer cut taxes for electricity, it will stick to plans to remove a levy on gas – effectively incentivising fossil fuel energy and disincentivising electrification. As a Spiegel author put it in an op-ed published this week, 'climate-damaging gas will be preferred when money is tight'. He added that the black-red coalition 'does not show any awareness of the climate crisis.' Bavarian lake monsters Summer time swimmers can relish the fact that Germany's fresh water resources are pretty clean. A recent EU analysis found that just over 90 percent of the country's bathing sites met European quality standards. However, anyone diving into murky waters in Bavaria should beware the local giants that may be lurking below. …Ok, to call them lake monsters (or See monsters, if you will) is a bit of a stretch, but there have been a few incidents involving rather large catfish ( Wels ) in the region. A 90 kg catfish was shot by police after allegedly attacking swimmers in Lake Brombach in Middle Franconia. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/Polizei Mittelfranken A couple weeks back a 90 kilogram, two-metre catfish in Lake Brombach was shot and killed by a police officer after allegedly biting five swimmers. Police spokesman Michael Petzold noted that biting people is 'atypical behaviour'. Catfish aren't normally aggressive, but are thought to become so when protecting their eggs. Advertisement This week, further reports of alleged catfish bites have been reported at the same lake. The killing of the first giant fish stirred up a heated debate between conservationists and anglers. In media reports a local innkeeper was quoted as saying that the fish had been eaten in its entirety – divided into 120 fillet portions that were each served with potato salad and other seasonal sides for €22.50.
Local Germany
23-06-2025
- Climate
- Local Germany
FORECAST: Just how hot will it get in Germany this summer?
How hot will it get? According to the German Weather Service (DWD), average temperatures across Germany are expected to be higher each month this summer than the average temperatures seen in the same months from 1991 to 2020. Having originally estimated the chances of a warmer summer (than the average for the summers between 1991 and 2020) at 81 percent, the DWD has now upgraded the probability to 93 percent. A report by the Weather Channel also suggests that Germany could see a heat dome event from July, which occurs when a high-pressure system traps hot air over a specific region and often causes significantly higher temperatures and prolonged heat waves. READ ALSO: RANKED: The worst German cities to spend a heatwave in While it's important to note that long-term weather forecasts always come with a degree of uncertainty – weather systems are notoriously complex, affected by temperatures, air pressure, humidity, winds, as well as far-away influences like ocean surface temperatures – seasonal climate forecasts do enable meteorologists to determine at least a rough trend for the coming weeks, months, and years. 2025: year of the 'yo-yo summer'? Following two days of the highest temperatures recorded yet this year, meteorologists are now predicting a period of lower temperatures accompanied by thunderstorms, heavy rain or hail and strong winds in many parts of Germany. Advertisement Meteorologist Dominik Jung recently suggested that predictions of hotter and drier conditions through the majority of this summer don't seem to fit the wild weather swings that are currently being seen. "In my opinion," Jung wrote, "a consistent summer high is not in sight." Instead, he predicts more roller coaster weather conditions and a "yo-yo summer". READ ALSO: Five cooler holiday destinations you can get to from Germany by train More mosquitos and restrictions on shipping a possibility Partly as a result of low rainwater levels during the winter, large parts of Germany are already experiencing extreme drought, according to the drought monitor at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research. In addition to increasing the risk of forest fires, this means that regions in southern Germany – currently experiencing a combination of warmer temperatures and shallow waters – could be in for 'a very mosquito-laden summer," according to Julia Heiermann at the environmental NGO NABU. Advertisement In west Germany meanwhile, a spokesperson for Rhine Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSA) has warned of the possibility of restrictions on shipping on the Rhine. Water levels on some parts of the river, Germany's most important commercial waterway, are at the lowest level seen in decades at this time of year. While the world as a whole has already warmed by around 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, European land temperatures have increased by almost 2°C, according to the latest figures from the European Environment Agency. Commenting on the figures, Carolina Kyllmann of Clean Energy Wire summed up the implications: 'In addition to heatwaves … persistent low levels of rainfall are becoming more common and, when the rain does come, it is frequently in prolonged downpours, causing flooding. Fires are also becoming more intense and more common.'
