Heatwave continues in North Rhine-Westphalia, thunderstorms loom for Sunday

Residents of North Rhine-Westphalia can expect no respite from the heat in the coming days. Thunderstorms are forecast to arrive from the west on Sunday night, particularly in the latter half of the night, according to the German Weather Service (DWD).

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The next few days will bring no cooling to North Rhine-Westphalia, and people in the state will have to continue sweating.

These storms could bring localized heavy rainfall, squalls, and small-grained hail. The DWD predicts that severe thunderstorms with wind gusts of 75 to 100 kilometers per hour, hail up to 2 centimeters in size, and intense rain are likely. The service warned of potential flooding, waterlogged basements, and falling tree branches.

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Localized heavy rain in a short time, squalls, and small-grained hail are possible.

Temperatures will remain summery, though slightly lower than Saturday. Cologne could see up to 32 degrees Celsius, while Münster is expected to reach around 29 degrees. A moderate northeast to east wind will blow away from the storms. The DWD has issued a Level 1 heat warning for large parts of the state, indicating significant heat stress.

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The DWD points to the danger of floods, waterlogged basements, and falling branches.

The forecast for Monday suggests rising temperatures and a chance of thunderstorms with strong gusts, despite a moderate north wind. The nights are expected to be partly cloudy and mostly dry.

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For large parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, there is a Level 1 heat warning from the German Weather Service, which corresponds to strong heat stress.