Severe Thunderstorms Forecast - End of Heatwave in the South

The weather tomorrow will be characterized by intense rain showers and heavy thunderstorms. Moreover, it will exceed the 30-degree mark for the last time in the foreseeable future. The humidity will come to an end by the weekend.

Commentary by Andreas Machalica (Diploma Meteorologist, Weather Editor, Presenter): 

"First, some good news for all those who have been suffering from the heat in the south of Germany: it's almost over! After two weeks of continuous sweltering heat, the much-awaited cooling is coming this weekend, bringing a significant drop in temperatures in some areas. However, this change in air masses won't happen quietly. Thunderstorms with the potential for severe weather will move across the country, some accompanied by heavy torrential rain, locally even hail, and strong gusty winds. Afterward, we're heading towards the end of August with mixed weather - and everywhere, finally, temperatures suitable for sleep and sports."

Current Weather Situation

Low-pressure system DENIS is moving from Scotland to the North Sea and South Norway in the coming days. Its frontal system is crossing Germany, bringing humid and very warm to hot air to us today.

By the weekend, much fresher Atlantic air will arrive, marking the end of the prolonged heatwave in the southern part of our country. This weather shift will be accompanied by sometimes severe thunderstorms.

Current Weather and Today's Forecast

The humidity has temporarily eased. However, the air is becoming more humid again from the west, as a first band of clouds with shower-like rain has reached western Germany (especially North Rhine-Westphalia/Rhineland-Palatinate) early today and is moving eastward, weakening as it goes (towards Hesse, Franconia, Thuringia).

Otherwise, the sun will frequently shine. In the north, it will be comfortably warm with temperatures ranging from 23 to 29 degrees Celsius, while in the south, it will still be hot with temperatures between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius.

As the afternoon progresses, more rain will move into the western parts of the country. Particularly in the evening, we must expect partly severe thunderstorms in the southwest of the country – initially affecting Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, later on, Baden-Württemberg, and then parts of Bavaria overnight. 

There is an increased risk of severe weather in these federal states. Heavy rainfall with amounts of 30 to 40 mm within a short period, as well as hail and strong to even hurricane-strength winds, are possible.

By the end of the night, there might also be thunderstorms with heavy rainfall in North Rhine-Westphalia. It will be a very mild night with lows between 21 and 16 degrees Celsius.

Tomorrow's Weather

In humid air, there will be repeated rain showers and thunderstorms coming in from the southwest. Intense and locally prolonged rain can be expected in some areas. While the sun will rarely show itself in the northwest, it will shine somewhat more often in the south and east, increasing the potential for severe thunderstorms, especially towards the evening.

Before that, temperatures will exceed 30 degrees Celsius for the last time from Saxony to Bavaria. Elsewhere, high temperatures will mostly range between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius, with 20 degrees Celsius at the North Sea.

Weekend Weather

On Saturday, there will be further rainfall and thunderstorms in the southeast (southern Baden-Württemberg, large parts of Bavaria, Saxony). Showers and isolated thunderstorms will also pass over the North Sea region. In the areas in between (west to northeast), it will mostly remain dry and intermittently friendly with sun and clouds – with temperatures ranging from 20 to 27 degrees Celsius at most.

Sunday will bring varying cloud cover with occasional, partly thunderous showers and gusty westerly winds in the north and west, while the southeast will often remain gray and partially wet.

At the beginning of the upcoming week, Germany will be situated between low-pressure systems over the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. This will result in the highest probability of rain in the far southeast and near the North Sea.

In between, weak high-pressure influence might bring mostly dry and occasionally friendly weather – with daytime temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius or just above.