Germany forecasts end to heatwave, but Balkans face extreme temperatures and flood risk warnings

Germany is bracing for the potential end of its summer heatwave, with meteorologists suggesting Thursday could be the last day temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius in many areas. While summer weather is expected to return strongly on Thursday, with highs between 26 and 31 degrees and even up to 35 degrees in southwestern Germany, a cold front is forecast to arrive from the west by Thursday afternoon. This front will rapidly displace the warm, humid air, ushering in significantly cooler conditions from Friday onwards, characterized by fresh Atlantic winds and variable weather.

As the sun loses strength and days shorten in late August, hot spells in late summer become less frequent and shorter. Nights are also cooling down, requiring more energy to reach high temperatures during the day. This natural cooling trend is expected to bring temperatures back to seasonal averages or slightly above by early September, marking the beginning of meteorological autumn. However, German media reports suggest that hot days in September are still possible, referencing September 2023 as the warmest on record and noting an extreme 35.2 degrees measured on September 4, 2024.

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We have exactly the same starting point as before; all the ingredients are there again.

Meanwhile, Croatia is experiencing extreme heat, with heatwave warnings issued for Friday across the country following a cold front that brought thunderstorms. The risk of a heatwave will persist in the south on Saturday. The rest of the week is expected to bring gradual warming, with parts of the Balkans facing a severe heatwave and temperatures potentially reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius. This return to extreme heat is concerning, especially as an Austrian meteorologist, Marcus Wadsak, has drawn parallels between the current weather patterns and the conditions that led to devastating floods in September 2024. He noted that while predicting floods is impossible, the conditions for heavy rainfall are present, describing the situation as "even more extreme this year" with "all the ingredients" back in place.

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The situation is even more extreme this year.