Heat wave is rolling over Germany: tropical nights and risk of thunderstorms!

Heat wave is rolling over Germany: tropical nights and risk of thunderstorms!

On Friday, June 13, 2025, the heat in Germany drew attention, especially in the southwest. Here people had to cope with temperatures of up to 34.7 degrees in Wolfach in the Black Forest and 34.6 degrees in Rheinstetten. The high humidity in particular made the heat wave a challenge for many. In cities such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, Aachen and Freiburg, the weather service predicted a tropical night with temperatures not falling below 20 degrees. The next day also promised a lot: Hot, hotter, Saturday, especially in the west and southwest of Germany, which further increased the health risks, as the Nordsee Zeitung reported.

But that's not all: from the afternoon there was a threat of strong thunderstorms in the west, northwest and over the mountains in southern Germany. The dangers of heavy rain were clearly noticeable and the risk of local storms increased, as various weather experts noted. The Heidelberg24 also warned that the heat wave in Baden-Württemberg posed challenges for many people and a heat warning was issued by the German Weather Service (DWD). The rising temperatures were due to subtropical, moist air masses, and many were told to store their vehicles in garages to protect them from possible storms.

A beginning, but not the end, of the heat wave

Looking to the coming days: After the tropical night, temperatures could continue to fluctuate between 10 and 20 degrees on Saturday night. But the weather finally calms down on Sunday, June 15th: unsettled weather is forecast for the south and east of Germany, while the west is slowly returning to temperate weather. From Monday, June 16th, a drop in temperature to around 26 degrees is expected, after which Tuesday, June 17th, will be sunny again and pleasant at 28 degrees.

A particular challenge that needs to be taken into account these days: the dangers associated with global warming. Climate change has already led to an increase in hot days, as the Tagesschau reported. Older people, sick people, pregnant women and healthy people are particularly affected, as they can often overheat on hot days. Calculations show that Germany has recorded over 50 hot days since the hot summer of 2024, almost 24 days more without the influence of climate change. The health system must be prepared for such anomalies, as the risk of heat stroke increases during hot days.

In this context, it is advisable to act quickly if symptoms such as heavy sweating, headaches or nausea occur. First aid usually offers a glass of water with a little salt to compensate for the loss of fluids and electrolytes. Cities should also plan how they can deal with the higher temperatures - for example with drinking fountains and trees for natural cooling. The Ministry of Health's closed heat protection plan stipulates that clinics and care facilities create particularly protected environments.

In a country that has hot days ahead of it, it's important to be prepared. Regardless of whether there is a heat action plan or your own behavior: After all, it is better to stay cool at home than to be exposed to the hot temperatures without protection.