Rain and storms precede heatwave in Germany; gusty winds expected

Germany is bracing for a significant shift in weather as rain and storms precede an anticipated heatwave. The German Weather Service (DWD) forecasts that before summer temperatures soar to as high as 35 degrees Celsius in Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt, the region will experience cooler, unsettled conditions.

Until Monday, the maximum temperatures are expected to hover around 22 degrees Celsius. The weekend forecast indicates variable to heavy cloud cover with intermittent rain. Scattered showers are also likely to continue into Monday. This period of unsettled weather serves as a prelude to the much warmer temperatures expected the following week.

Thunderstorms are particularly anticipated on Saturday afternoon and Sunday in the northern parts of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. These storms could bring gusts of wind reaching 70 to 80 kilometers per hour and small-grained hail. Strong gusts are also expected in elevated areas.

Specific locations bracing for strong winds include the Brocken in Saxony-Anhalt (Saturday to Monday), mountainous areas in Thuringia (weekend), and the Ore Mountains and Fichtelberg in Saxony (weekend and Monday). The Brocken could see gusts up to 75 km/h, while Thuringia's highlands might experience winds between 55 to 70 km/h. These strong winds are also expected to persist through the nights of Sunday and Monday in the Brocken and Fichtelberg areas.