Will Germany see extreme heatwaves this summer?
June has started out cool with scattered showers across Germany so far, but current weather forecasts suggest that the country could see a widespread heatwave later this week.
Longer-term seasonal forecasts suggest that Germany could be headed for a particularly hot summer, with higher than average temperatures from July to September, and likely also more heat waves than have been seen in previous years.
But longer term weather forecasts are tricky, and a scorching summer
is not yet certain.
What do climate forecasts predict for the coming summer?
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.
The DWD's figures suggest that Germany could see summer temperatures comparable to those recorded last year.
But a
report
by
the Weather Channel
says that Germany could see a heat-dome event from July.
A heat dome happens when a high-pressure system traps hot air over a specific region, causing significantly higher temperatures and often prolonged heat waves.
From July on,
the Weather Channel
puts the probability of Germany experiencing one of its hottest summers at more than 70 percent.
READ ALSO:
Which German cities are best prepared for extreme heat?
Advertisement
That said, long-term weather forecasts always come with a degree of uncertainty. Weather systems are notoriously complex – being affected by temperatures, air pressure, humidity, winds, as well as far-away influences like ocean surface temperatures.
The climate model used by the DWD was developed by the University of Hamburg and the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology. Rather than a simple weather forecast for the coming days, seasonal climate forecasts look at an ensemble of different weather prediction models. If the DWD creates an ensemble of ten initial parameters and eight of them predict a hot summer, then the probability of a hot summer would be 80 percent.
What is known for sure is that, average temperatures have trended upward in recent decades due to human caused climate change.
First summer heatwave expected from Thursday
Following cool weather at the start of June – and scattered showers that brought at least temporary relief to drought conditions in much of Germany – weather forecasts are calling for high temperatures this week.
"What we are experiencing here is a 180-degree weather turnaround," meteorologist Johannes Graf warned in a forecast for
Wetter.net
.
As late as the Pentecost weekend, ground frost was seen in some parts of Germany. But from Tuesday temperatures are expected to rise rapidly, with high temperatures of 30C expected in the southwest by Wednesday.
Daily high temperatures of around 30C are expected across much of the country on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, which would mark the first heat wave in many places in 2025. (In Europe, heat waves are generally defined as three consecutive days with temperatures of 30C or more.)
Advertisement
Nighttime temperatures are also expected to be warm during this time – at around 20C in some places. These so-called "tropical night' conditions can be stressful, especially for older people and people with circulatory problems.
Staying hydrated and ventilating the house at night are good practices during back-to-back hot days.
READ ALSO:
8 places in North Rhine-Westphalia to escape the heat this summer
Following high temperatures at the weekend, a period of cooler weather is predicted to follow one week later, along with heavy rain or hail and strong winds in some places.
Meteorologist Dominik Jung suggested in a recent
column
that predictions of hotter and drier conditions through the majority of the summer don't seem to fit the wild weather swings that are currently being seen.
"In my opinion, a consistent summer high is not in sight," Jung wrote. Instead he predicts roller coaster weather conditions and a "yo-yo summer".
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
6 days ago
- DW
Drought has many faces and many impacts – DW – 06/17/2025
Extreme drought and water shortages are increasingly harming crops, the economy and the lives of people around the world. But drought doesn't have the same impact everywhere. What can we do to alleviate water crises? After a dry European spring, farmers across some parts of the continent are worried about this year's crops. And the concerns are notunique to Europe. As global temperatures are pushed up by the burning of coal, oil and gas, other parts of the world are also experiencing longer periods of drought. But not all droughts equal, and each type comes with its own set of consequences. Meteorological and agricultural droughts A study released this year by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) showed that periods of extreme drought have increased globally over the last 40 years. The global average of drought-stricken land has increased by around 50,000 square kilometers (about 19,300 square miles) every year, an area roughly the size of Slovakia. In Sicily, Italy, this former watering hole — once a vital resource for a local farmer — has been reduced to a sandy pit Image: Andrew Medichini/AP Photo/picture alliance People in northern Chile have been living with drought for the last 14 years, while in the southwestern US — states like Arizona, New Mexico and parts of California, for instance — the last three years have been extremely dry. Meteorological drought is defined by comparing actual conditions to the average amount of precipitation in a certain area, making them region specific. The German Weather Service, for examples, calls a meteorological drought a period of one or two months of unusually dry weather, with little precipitation. If the ground is parched, farmers are having trouble securing water, plants aren't growing properly and crops are reduced or even fail completely, it is known as an agricultural drought. Hydrological drought This occurs when water levels in rivers, lakes and underground natural reserves fall below a specific minimum, and freshwater supplies are almost completely dry. Hydrological drought often occurs after a longer meteorological drought. For the German Weather Service, that means a period of at least four months of unusually dry conditions. In October 2024, ships in Brazil's Rio Negro were left high and dry in one of the region's worst droughts since 1950 Image: Bruno Kelly/REUTERS More and more regions around the world are experiencing above-average dryness. By 2050, the World Bank has predicted that people living in much of Africa, Southeast Asia, parts of the US and South America will see even greater problems. In Cyprus, rivers and reservoirs are empty The Mediterranean island of Cyprus is currently experiencing both an agricultural and hydrological drought. Rain has been scarce for many weeks — reservoirs are empty, riverbeds are dry and dusty and farmers don't have enough to keep their crops alive. Recent media reports have said this year's harvest is at risk of failure. "Last year was already bad, but this is the second year that is very dry," said Adriana Bruggeman, an associate professor at the Cyprus Institute's Energy, Environment and Water Research Center. Bruggeman explained that the winter months are usually a time of more precipitation, giving lakes and rivers the chance to refill. But when that rain doesn't fall, the reservoirs in Cyprus remain empty. "We're not in a good condition," she said. Farmers in Cyprus struggle with water shortages To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Socioeconomic drought It's not always easy to strictly differentiate between the different types of drought, as several phenomena can occur in parallel. Most droughts that people actually notice are of the socioeconomic kind, according to Dirk Karger of the WSL in Switzerland. These occur when extremely dry conditions have a direct effect on society and the economy — when the lack of water make certain goods or electricity more expensive, or even scarce. During a period of extreme drought in Spain and Italy in 2024, there were times when water supplies were rationed. In the same period in neighboring France, several nuclear plants had to be temporarily shut down due to insufficient water to cool the reactors. And in Zimbabwe, a hydroelectric plant was unable to provide electricity due to water shortages, resulting in power outages. Droughts can also have dramatic social and economic consequences. In many regions, including Sudan, South Suden and Mali, persistent droughts have exacerbated hunger . "If we look to the West, in the US, where there's been water shortages for the last decade, there have also been repercussions on the water supply," said Karger. "The same thing in Chile, where there's been some real damage." The western states of California and Nevada have experienced months of drought, contributing to the conditions that have saw devastating wildfires during the winter months — most notably in Los Angeles in January. Ecological drought The effects of severe drought, according to Germany's Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, are often underestimated — even though they often cause much greater economic damage than storms, floods or heavy rain. Unlike these extreme weather events, droughts don't come with an early warning sign. And how bad a drought will end up being is only known long after it has begun. In the US alone, droughts are responsible for between $6-9 billion in damages every year. As a result, researchers are increasingly highlighting a fifth type of event: ecological drought. This describes how periods of extreme drought can destabilize animals, plants and entire ecosystems. How can cities adapt to water cycle 'whiplash'? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A severe drop in groundwater levels and soil moisture can lead to irreversible effects for ecosystems — and people. These include widespread crop failure, increased tree death, reduced ecosystem productivity and a threat to water supplies, WSL researchers highlighted in their study. Drought spares no landscape. A severe drought is almost immediately noticeable on grasslands, but these find it easier to bounce back after the rains return. Forests, on the other hand, can't recover as easily and may experience lasting damage from the same weather conditions. Drought also raises the risks in other disasters. A heavy rain after a long period of dryness, for example, can overwhelm dried out soils. The ground can't absorb the sudden masses of water, leading to flooding, landslides and raging mudflows. What can we do to save water and survive drought? To prevent droughts from becoming even more severe in the future, experts say we must do everything to limit climate change as quickly as possible. At the same time, people will need to adapt to increasing long periods without rain. Finding ways to use the available water more efficiently, both at home and in industry, is essential. Places like Singapore are leading the way when it comes to water conservation. This collection basin helps Singapore to collect and efficiently store rainwater Image: Aleksandr Simonov/Depositphotos/Imago Images The city-state in Southeast Asia is a world leader when it comes to collecting rainwater. Water reservoirs have been set up throughout the city, ready to collect any rain that falls from the sky. These reservoirs deliver drinking water during periods of dry weather, and help to cool the city during heat waves. Water treatment plants reclaim wastewater, turning it back into drinking water. So far, Singapore is one of the few countries to do so much to conserve water. Its strategy is an excellent example for other cities and regions, and could help them to prepare for water shortages. Efficiency is another potential way to save water. Around the world, cities lose huge volumes of the precious resource due to leaky or broken pipes. In Italy, some 40% of the country's freshwater is lost on the way to the consumer; in Europe, about a quarter of drinking water is wasted due to inadequate management practices. Regular repair and maintenance of pipes, including regularly checking them for leaks, would help to protect water supplies worldwide. How Singapore is going from water rags to riches To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This article was originally written in German.
Local Germany
7 days ago
- Local Germany
RANKED: The worst German cities to spend a heatwave in
Periods of extreme heat in Germany can be dangerous, and they are becoming both more common and more severe as the planet warms. When the weather gets hot, local temperatures in urban areas are amplified – especially in places with a lot of concrete and few trees – by what's called the 'heat island' effect. More than 12 million people in German cities are exposed to extreme heat where they live, according to a study by the German Environmental Aid (DUH). DUH's "Heat-check" report shows which German cities are more or less prepared for high temperatures, based on average summer surface temperatures, and the proportion of sealed cement areas versus tree cover. Here are the worst German cities to be caught in a heatwave, according to the report published this June. Germany's hottest cities With an average midday surface temperature of 38.4C from June to August, Mannheim may be the worst German city to experience a heatwave. Mannheim is the second most populous city in Baden-Württemberg and is home to a number of universities and a relatively high foreign population, but with about 56 percent of its area covered in concrete and just two percent shaded by trees, it can be sweltering on a summer day. Following Mannheim, and with similar heat stats are the cities of Ludwigshafen am Rhein and Worms in Rhineland-Palatinate. In fourth place is the Hessian city of Rüsselsheim am Main. Germany's business capital, Frankfurt am Main, is also among the country's most heat-affected, ranking 5th in DUH's heat check this year. Southern cities particularly affected According to the study, heat stress is particularly high in southern German cities, where in-land temperatures trend higher in the summer months. Advertisement The states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse in particular have most of the cities that are rated as being severely affected by heat according to DUH's analysis. Bavaria's most affected cities are Aschaffenburg and Nuremberg, ranked 14th and 15th respectively. Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt and Hildesheim in Lower Saxony were the only cities from the northern half of Germany that were grouped among the most at-risk category. READ ALSO: Essential articles to help you survive a heatwave in Germany The best prepared cities for extreme heat Generally cities in the north, and especially those near to the coast, benefit from lower average temperatures in the summer. These include cities like Flensburg, Wilhelmshaven and Kiel. However, the best prepared cities for extreme heat are not those on the coast but instead the North Rhine Westphalian cities of Hattingen, Gummersbach and Witten. These cities have less sealed concrete space (at 40 percent or less of the settlement area) and high proportions of green spaces (at around five percent each). A few other cities that scored well for heat adaptation were Hamburg, Hagen, Wuppertal, Marburg and Solingen, just to name a few. Stuttgart, Leipzig, Hanover, Cologne, Erfurt, Düsseldorf and Berlin all had scores close to the median for German cities. Advertisement Why the heat-check matters The effects of global warming are already noticeable in Germany – according to the German Weather Service (DWD), local average temperatures have already increased by 2.5C compared to pre-industrial times. According to estimates by the Robert Koch Institute, there were around 3,000 heat-related deaths in Germany in 2023 and 2024, and in 2022 there were even more. Older people in particular suffer from high temperatures, and DUH's heat-check found that socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods tend to be more affected. The Ministry of Health warns that especially days with temperatures above 30C can be harmful. It is important to stay hydrated on these days, also to avoid physical exertion and ventilation during the hot parts of the day, and to cool down with showers or foot baths. READ ALSO: 8 of the coolest places in Germany to visit on hot summer days
Local Germany
10-06-2025
- Local Germany
Will Germany see extreme heatwaves this summer?
June has started out cool with scattered showers across Germany so far, but current weather forecasts suggest that the country could see a widespread heatwave later this week. Longer-term seasonal forecasts suggest that Germany could be headed for a particularly hot summer, with higher than average temperatures from July to September, and likely also more heat waves than have been seen in previous years. But longer term weather forecasts are tricky, and a scorching summer is not yet certain. What do climate forecasts predict for the coming summer? 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. The DWD's figures suggest that Germany could see summer temperatures comparable to those recorded last year. But a report by the Weather Channel says that Germany could see a heat-dome event from July. A heat dome happens when a high-pressure system traps hot air over a specific region, causing significantly higher temperatures and often prolonged heat waves. From July on, the Weather Channel puts the probability of Germany experiencing one of its hottest summers at more than 70 percent. READ ALSO: Which German cities are best prepared for extreme heat? Advertisement That said, long-term weather forecasts always come with a degree of uncertainty. Weather systems are notoriously complex – being affected by temperatures, air pressure, humidity, winds, as well as far-away influences like ocean surface temperatures. The climate model used by the DWD was developed by the University of Hamburg and the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology. Rather than a simple weather forecast for the coming days, seasonal climate forecasts look at an ensemble of different weather prediction models. If the DWD creates an ensemble of ten initial parameters and eight of them predict a hot summer, then the probability of a hot summer would be 80 percent. What is known for sure is that, average temperatures have trended upward in recent decades due to human caused climate change. First summer heatwave expected from Thursday Following cool weather at the start of June – and scattered showers that brought at least temporary relief to drought conditions in much of Germany – weather forecasts are calling for high temperatures this week. "What we are experiencing here is a 180-degree weather turnaround," meteorologist Johannes Graf warned in a forecast for . As late as the Pentecost weekend, ground frost was seen in some parts of Germany. But from Tuesday temperatures are expected to rise rapidly, with high temperatures of 30C expected in the southwest by Wednesday. Daily high temperatures of around 30C are expected across much of the country on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, which would mark the first heat wave in many places in 2025. (In Europe, heat waves are generally defined as three consecutive days with temperatures of 30C or more.) Advertisement Nighttime temperatures are also expected to be warm during this time – at around 20C in some places. These so-called "tropical night' conditions can be stressful, especially for older people and people with circulatory problems. Staying hydrated and ventilating the house at night are good practices during back-to-back hot days. READ ALSO: 8 places in North Rhine-Westphalia to escape the heat this summer Following high temperatures at the weekend, a period of cooler weather is predicted to follow one week later, along with heavy rain or hail and strong winds in some places. Meteorologist Dominik Jung suggested in a recent column that predictions of hotter and drier conditions through the majority of the summer don't seem to fit the wild weather swings that are currently being seen. "In my opinion, a consistent summer high is not in sight," Jung wrote. Instead he predicts roller coaster weather conditions and a "yo-yo summer".
