July Heat Record in Southwest Germany Could Be Broken, Forecasters Say

Baden-Württemberg is bracing for a potential July heat record, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 39 degrees Celsius, and possibly touch 40 degrees in some areas. However, the German Weather Service (DWD) suggests the probability of breaking the existing July record is relatively low. A cold front is anticipated to arrive by the afternoon, bringing a temperature drop of approximately six degrees Celsius. This means the heatwave would need to peak early in the day for a record to be set. The current July record for Baden-Württemberg stands at 39.8 degrees Celsius, recorded on July 25, 2019, at the Waghäusel-Kirrlach station in the Karlsruhe district. While a higher temperature of 40.3 degrees Celsius was measured in Bad Mergentheim on July 20, 2022, the DWD noted this was only representative of a very localized area. More recently, on June 27, a new all-time record of 41.4 degrees Celsius was set in Waghäusel-Kirrlach, marking the hottest temperature ever recorded in the region since measurements began. The forecast for Friday indicates a mix of sun and clouds, with temperatures ranging from 33 degrees in higher mountain areas to 35 degrees in Oberschwaben, and up to 39 degrees along the Rhine, Neckar, and Tauber rivers. The afternoon may bring increasing cloud cover from the west, with a slight chance of rain and thunderstorms, accompanied by gusty northwesterly winds. The weekend is expected to be more unsettled, with showers and thunderstorms likely on Saturday and Sunday.