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WEATHER

Essential articles to help you survive a heatwave in Germany

Thursday is set to be a scorcher with temperatures above 30C predicted in many German cities. During intense heat, it's important to find ways to cool off. We've compiled a list of some recent articles to help you stay cool during the heatwave.

Published: 13 August 2024 12:18 CEST
Updated: 29 August 2024 10:56 CEST
cooling down at Berlin's Badeschift
People cool off in the “Badeschiff” floating swimming pool in the East Harbour of the River Spree in Berlin. Photo: David GANNON / AFP

It’s been a summer of extremes in Germany with both heatwaves and heavy rainfall recurring quite often across much of the country.

Thursday is set to be the hottest day of the year in the German capital, according to the German Weather Service (DWD), with expected temperatures in Berlin up to 35C.

The DWD also has heat warnings in place across most of the middle of the country – from Stuttgart to Frankfurt to Hamburg to Dresden.

Generally high temperatures will range from the low to mid 30s in most of the country, with the exception of the North Sea coast which will remain cooler.

The weather is expected to cool off a bit on Friday and into the weekend, but will remain quite warm in many places.

Here’s a roundup of our reporting on tips for escaping the heat, or otherwise dealing with it in the German fashion:

beach near Cuxhaven

Beach chairs line the shore in Cuxhaven. Germany’s northern coast tends to be the country’s coolest region during heatwaves. Photo by FOCKE STRANGMANN / AFP

Many German cities have developed a ‘heat plan’, for developing better ways to protect citizens from dangerously high temperatures and provide more cool spaces. But some cities are well ahead of others in terms of converting concrete covered ‘sealed’ spaces to green spaces (which is among the best ways to cool a city centre).

Today is the day to ditch work for a Hitzefrei (a heat-free day) if there ever was one. As Rachel Loxton explains, German workers often take a break from work on particularly hot days. In some cases, it may even be your legal right: workplace regulations stipulate that room temperatures should not exceed 26C. So if you’re sweltering in an office with no A/C, consider taking a tip from the locals and walking out ‘heat-free’.

If you do succeed in getting off for Hitzefrei, or otherwise have the day free, your next question may be, ‘Where can I go to cool off?’ In many German cities, the best option could be your closest lake. Readers of The Local told us about their favourite lakes to visit, as well as some good tips for making the most out of a lake day.

If you don’t mind travelling a bit further, we’ve rounded up some of Germany’s coolest destinations, all of which can make for a good day or weekend trips, especially during a summer heatwave.

When you have a bit more time for travel, there are plenty of potential vacation destinations around Germany that may be more enjoyable than Spain, Italy or Greece when the temperatures are running near all time highs. 

Lastly, after you’ve done what you can to find a cool place and chill out, here’s a quick guide to some simple and interesting German phrases for talking about the hot weather.

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WEATHER

Germany braces for heavy rain as first snow arrives

Autumn weather is in full swing in Germany, with fresh snow falling in the Alps. Forecasters are warning of extreme rain and possible flooding in the south and neighbouring countries.

Published: 13 September 2024 09:28 CEST
Germany braces for heavy rain as first snow arrives

After a prolonged spell of shorts and T-shirt weather, there’s a chill in the air. In fact, the weather change has already brought the first snow to the Alps in southern Germany. 

However, forecasters are warning that the situation could get much worse. 

In south-east Germany and parts of Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland, there is a threat of extremely heavy rain and flooding. 

The German Weather Service (DWD) says that the south and east of Bavaria will likely see storms over the next few days.

According to forecasts, the Berchtesgadener Land region could experience “storm-like amounts of precipitation” by Sunday, with 80 to 120 litres of rain per square metre.

Severe weather warnings have been issued for several districts in the Alpine region and continuous rain is expected from Friday for a strip from Lusatia (Lausitz) via the Bohemian Forest mountain range to the eastern edge of the Alps.

The DWD described in its warning that there would be “partly heavy, persistent rain (severe weather) from the Alps across the foothills to the Bavarian Forest and in the south and east of Saxony”.

In the Alps, the precipitation “will fall as snow from around 1,300 to 1,500 metres, meaning that a significant onset of winter is imminent in the mountains”, according to DWD meteorologist Nico Bauer.

During the night, the first snow fell at higher altitudes, especially on the Zugspitze mountain. In the coming days, there could be up to 50 centimetres of fresh snow and there is a risk of “snow breakage”, warns the DWD – that means that trees or large branches could buckle under the weight of the snow.

Polar air meets Mediterranean low pressure

The rainfall is being triggered by a rare weather situation in which a low pressure system from the warm Mediterranean region meets cold polar air in the Alpine region.These developments often lead to heavy, sometimes extreme rainfall and storms.

The parts of Germany affected are preparing for the possibility of flooding. However, the situation is forecast to be worse in neighbouring countries. 

From the eastern Alps and the Adriatic up to south-western Poland, between 50 and 100 litres of precipitation per square metre are expected by Sunday evening. From the south-east of Bavaria across northern Austria, the Czech Republic and the west of Slovakia to southern Poland, there could even be 100 to 350 litres per square metre in some areas.

“The situation that we are expecting in the next four, possibly five days is unfortunately very similar to the situation during the major floods of 1997 and 2002,” warned Czech Environment Minister Petr Hladik. In places where extreme rainfall is expected, firefighters have started filling sandbags. 

READ ALSO: Floods and avalanches – Austria set for weekend of extreme weather

Experts in Poland are warning of a rapid and dangerous rise in the water levels on rivers.

The highest alert level applies to Lower Silesia, Silesia and Opole. In Carinthia, Austria, heavy rainfall has already caused the level of the River Drava to rise and has triggered initial precautionary measures. Riverside paths have been closed as there is a danger to life. In neighbouring Slovenia, rainfall of historic proportions is also feared.

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