Following a day of record-breaking temperatures, thunderstorms and torrential rain are forecast on Friday in several parts of Germany.
A weather front across central Germany is currently seperating hot air in the southeast from cooler air further north, the German Weather Service (DWD) said on Friday.
This could lead to increased turbulence and severe thunderstorms.
In the northwest, torrential downpour and thunder are expected to start around midday, with 20 litres of rain forecast to fall within an hour.
In several parts of the country, heavy rain, hailstones and thunder are expected.
However, the most severe storms are likely to strike Saxony and Thuringia later in the afternoon.
Isolated severe storms could produce more than 30 litres of rain per square metre in a short time period, with large hailstones and 120-kilometre-per-hour gusts of wind, DWD said.
In the southeast of the country, temperatures will remain blisteringly high in the with the mercury hitting 38C in some regions. Elsewhere, between 27C and 35C are expected.
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The extreme weather is likely to ease off in most parts of the country on Friday night. While the southeastern states could see continued thunderstorms, most regions can look forward to cooler and calmer conditions.
Blistering heat and storms
On Thursday scorching temperatures of more than 40C had given way to severe storms.
Two men aged 18 and 19 were injured by a falling branch near Lake Möhne in North Rhine-Westphalia and taken to hospital. Storms also temporarily interrupted the Libori festival in Paderborn and led to the cancellation of an Alvaro Soler pop concert in Hanover.
A young woman driving on the A31 near the Dutch border lost control of her van due to the heavy downpour, veered off the carriageway and overturned. She was brought into hospital with serious injuries.
Thursday’s highest reading was 40.5C in Bernburg, Saxony-Anhalt, according to DWD. Temperatures also reached 40.4C in Kitzingen, Bavaria, and 40.2C in Ohlsbach, Baden-Württemberg.
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If confirmed, the figures would represent new July records for Saxony-Anhalt, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
Germany’s all-time temperature record of 41.8C was recorded in Möckern-Drewitz during the heatwave in late June.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thelocal.de
