Germany's major heatwave is over for most of the country. Thunderstorms are moving from the west and southwest in a northeasterly direction on Monday, as the German Weather Service in Offenbach announced. A cold front from a low-pressure system near Iceland is reaching Germany, with slightly cooler and drier air flowing in.
In areas affected by the storms, heavy rainfall and strong gusts are possible, and the weather service did not rule out hail either. In the east and south, conditions are expected to remain humid and warm to hot for the time being. Overnight into Tuesday, the storms are set to clear the east, while isolated severe thunderstorms are expected for the south.
Maximum temperatures on Monday are 29 degrees Celsius, with the east and southeast potentially reaching up to 32 degrees. For Tuesday, the weather service is forecasting 25 to 30 degrees for most of the country. The southwest could see up to 32 degrees, while the far north is expected to reach only 21 to 25 degrees.
In an initial assessment of the "historic heatwave" on Sunday, the weather service described the event as extreme. "Never before since the start of weather records has there been such a long and intense heatwave so early in summer in Germany, and in many parts of Europe," it stated. In some regions, the heatwave lasted eleven days.
An international team of scientists concluded last week that the extreme temperatures are connected to climate change. According to the World Weather Attribution research group, temperatures like these at this time of year would have been "practically impossible" fifty years ago.
Hundreds of additional deaths were recorded across Europe due to the prolonged heat. France alone reported around a thousand excess deaths compared to previous months. Dozens of people died in swimming accidents across Western Europe, with fatalities in Germany as well.
The extreme temperatures also took a toll on infrastructure. Numerous train services in Germany were cancelled, and sections of motorway had to be partially closed after road surfaces cracked. Power outages and wildfires, some of which have not yet been extinguished, added to the disruption. Several festivals and other events had to be cancelled or abandoned.
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