Germany braces for heat and severe thunderstorms

Germany is facing a dramatic weather split as summer officially begins, with oppressive heat gripping southern regions while severe thunderstorms threaten the west and center. The German Weather Service (DWD) has warned of potentially dangerous weather conditions across the country.

In parts of the country, temperatures are expected to soar between 32 and 39 degrees Celsius through Wednesday, with Saarbrücken-Burbach recording a preliminary high of 37.5 degrees. The DWD has issued official heat warnings for large areas, cautioning against strong to extreme heat exposure.

Meanwhile, the western and central-east regions are bracing for powerful thunderstorms. The DWD warned of frequent storms with heavy rain (up to 20 liters per square meter in a short time), small hail, and wind gusts up to 70 km/h overnight into Sunday. By Sunday afternoon, these storms are expected to intensify, particularly in the eastern center, bringing torrential rain, hailstones up to three centimeters in size, and hurricane-force gusts reaching around 100 kilometers per hour.

The volatile weather has already caused disruptions. In Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg, nine people were injured, including a young woman with severe injuries, by a lightning strike during a sports event. A tent camp with about 300 children in Moormerland, East Frisia, had to be evacuated due to severe weather. A festival south of Flensburg, attended by approximately 5,000 visitors, was also cleared, with 13 people sustaining minor injuries from the storm. Road damage due to heat has also been reported.

Across Europe, high temperatures are causing widespread discomfort. France's weather service has issued the highest or second-highest alert for nearly the entire country, with expected peak temperatures between 38 and 41 degrees Celsius. In Greece, firefighters battled the first major wildfire of the year on the island of Euboea, with strong winds fanning the flames and prompting the precautionary evacuation of two villages.