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.

The German national weather service DWD has currently issued warnings and pre-warning alerts for potential significant #weather in #Germany (map shows both). #StaySafe and be prepared and follow the official information and advisories from this source: https://t.co/yFrKghlThP. pic.twitter.com/DBMCA0jx3M

— ASKMeteo (@ASKMeteo) September 13, 2024

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.