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Heat records in Rhineland-Palatinate: thunderstorms and cooling are imminent!
Rhineland-Palatinate experiences temperatures of up to 40 degrees and warns of thunderstorms. The risk of forest fires increases. Current weather updates here.
Heat records in Rhineland-Palatinate: thunderstorms and cooling are imminent!
On Wednesday, Rhineland-Palatinate was affected by an extreme heat wave that registered a temporary record. With temperatures of almost 40 degrees, which were measured at 39.3 degrees at the weather station in Andernach, the region experienced the hottest day of the year. Overall, the temperatures were between 34 and 38 degrees. While the state is in this heat wave, an all-time temperature record for Germany remains out of reach for the time being, according to the DWD - the current record is 41.2 degrees, measured on July 25, 2019. The highest temperature of the year to date has been recorded in Kitzingen, Bavaria, at 37.8 degrees.
After the rise in temperatures caused by the heatwave, a welcome cooling down is forecast for Thursday with changeable weather, showers and thunderstorms. The temperatures should then be between 26 and 31 degrees, in high altitudes even just 22 degrees can be expected. Friday promises to be sunny again, with a maximum temperature of 28 degrees. On Friday night temperatures can drop to 19 to 14 degrees.
Forest fire danger and environmental warnings
However, the extreme heat also has its downsides: the risk of forest fires increases significantly. The German Weather Service has informed the population about the different levels of danger. Environment Minister Katrin Eder has declared the first of four warning levels due to the above-average water temperatures - many bodies of water in Rhineland-Palatinate have exceeded the critical mark of 25 degrees Celsius. June was exceptionally sunny and dry in the region, with 291 hours of sunshine, nearly 100 hours above average. At the same time, rainfall in June was only 59 liters per square meter, well below the long-term average of 76 liters.
In a larger European context, weather conditions are also alarming. Another massive heat wave is threatening southern Europe this weekend with extreme heat warnings for 21 cities in Italy, including Rome and Milan. According to experts, the heat can affect even healthy people, which is why it is advised to avoid the sun between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and use air conditioning. Similar warnings about extreme temperatures and wildfires are being issued in France and Spain. Forest fires have already broken out in Croatia and Greece, leading to evacuations.
The connection between these heat waves and man-made climate change is increasingly viewed by experts as critical. A total of nine heat waves have already been recorded in June between 2000 and 2024, indicating a worrying trend.