German Weather Service: Severe Weather Warning, Then Cooling

Meteorologists are forecasting severe thunderstorms for southern Germany on Thursday, with warnings of heavy rain, hail, and wind gusts reaching up to 100 km/h. The German Weather Service (DWD) anticipates intense rainfall, potentially reaching 30 liters per square meter within an hour, accompanied by hail stones up to three centimeters in diameter and severe squalls.

Less intense thunderstorms are expected in other parts of Germany, featuring rainfall of about 15 liters per square meter in a short period, wind gusts around 70 km/h, and smaller hailstones. These conditions follow Wednesday's severe weather in Baden-Württemberg, which caused numerous emergency responses, particularly in the Lake Constance and Reutlingen areas. Flooded basements, inundated streets, and a temporary power outage for approximately 6,000 households were reported in Reutlingen due to heavy rain and a hailstorm.

Thursday is expected to be the last day of the current heatwave, with temperatures potentially exceeding 30 degrees Celsius in southwestern regions, especially around the Upper Rhine valley. However, a significant change is anticipated for Friday as a shift in air masses is predicted to bring an end to the high temperatures.

"A change in air mass will bring the end of the heat," stated Fabian Chow of the DWD's weather forecast center. Despite the cooling trend, Chow warned that the atmosphere will remain energetic, potentially leading to severe thunderstorms. Looking ahead to the weekend, temperatures are expected to drop significantly, falling below 25 degrees Celsius, with some coastal areas experiencing stormy conditions.