Summer is coming to a close - up to 100 degrees.
Two small low-pressure systems bring cooling and rain - but summer returns with a vengeance. After a sunny weekend, the hottest days of the year are expected at the start of the new week, according to ntv meteorologist Björn Alexander. At least the nights provide some relief before it becomes increasingly stormy.
ntv.de: What's in store for summer in Germany in the coming days?
Björn Alexander: Following the cold front of low "Nicole", which brought heavy thunderstorms and up to 50 liters of rain per square meter on Wednesday and Thursday night, we now have fresher air. And on Friday, another low, "Ottilie", will affect the north and center of our country. But then it's going up rapidly.
How nice and warm will it be?
The weekend is looking good with plenty of sun and pleasant summer temperatures in dry air. Then summer makes a big comeback, with significant heat stress and subsequent humidity and thunderstorms.
That sounds like a varied schedule, ending with which heat peaks?
In the coming days, a plume of Saharan air will move across southern and central Europe from North Africa and Spain. This affects Spain, France, parts of the Alps and Italy, the Balkans, and even Germany.
Where will it be hottest?
The hotspot is in Spain, with peaks of 40 to 45 degrees. Elsewhere, peaks will be around 40 degrees. In Germany, it's expected to reach around 37 or 38 degrees.
That sounds quite hot.
It is. It's likely to be the hottest days of the year here. The current records are 35.4 degrees in the official network of the German Weather Service and 36 degrees in private networks.
Will it be enough for long-term records?
Regionally in Europe, perhaps. But not for national records here, where the highest temperatures were recorded in the second half of August 2003 in Freiburg and Karlsruhe at 40.2 degrees, and in Kitzingen, Bavaria, in 2015 at 40.3 degrees.
How long will the extreme heat last?
According to current forecasts, the heat peak will move from the southwest and west to the east on Tuesday, while humidity and thunderstorm risk increase from the west. If this happens, the greatest heat will be over by Wednesday.
What does this mean in detail?
On Friday, a mix of early autumn-like weather will bring repeated dense clouds with showers and individual thunderstorms in the north. Strong winds will blow on the coasts and in the middle mountain ranges. Temperatures will be 20 to 25 degrees. Towards the south, the sun will shine after early morning fog, with temperatures rising to 25 to 31 degrees, marking the possible last and most intense heat wave of summer 2024 in the southwest.
And the weekend?
Is the trend continuing with sunny parts and general values going up? That means for Saturday, temperatures ranging from windy 22°C by the sea to up to 32°C in the south. Sunday will be even more generous with summer vibes, treating us to 23 to 33°C. While nights will gradually get warmer, they will still provide a refreshing touch, so we should make the most of the morning hours to breathe and air out. Are we approaching the peak of summer?
Based on current forecasts, it seems that way. Monday and Tuesday are expected to be extremely hot, with temperatures reaching 30 to 35°C, locally even higher. Depending on the model, isolated peaks of 37 or 38°C cannot be ruled out. Only along the coasts will it be less hot, with temperatures ranging from 25 to 28°C.
What about the humidity?
On Monday, it's still dry heat initially. On Tuesday, humidity increases from the west, also raising the risk of thunderstorms. On Wednesday, lightning and thunder will become more active and intense, pushing out the main heat, so we can expect a mix of showers and thunderstorms with a maximum of 19 to 27°C on Thursday.
The weather forecast suggests that despite the current cooling and rain brought by low-pressure systems, summer's heat is set to return with a vengeance, potentially making these the hottest days of the year. Even though summer temperatures will be high, at least the nights will provide some relief before the weather becomes increasingly stormy.
