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Stormy weather and fires cause mayhem throughout Germany

DPA/The Local
DPA/The Local - [email protected]
Stormy weather and fires cause mayhem throughout Germany
Firefighters distinguished 500 square metres of fire in Helmstedt on Wednesday.

Germany is experiencing stormy weather and dry temperatures, both increasing the risks of fire. But in most of the country, the weather is expected to improve this weekend.

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Following stormy weather in southwest Germany, meteorologists are predicting additional thunderstorms, which they say carry a risk of forest fires. 

Thunderstorms, hail storms and stormy gusts are likely to occur throughout the country, from southwest Germany to the eastern states of Saxony and Thuringia this Thursday, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). The first storms have already struck Baden-Württemberg and Saarland.

Throughout southern Germany, there are high to very high fire risks due to extreme drought conditions, reported DWD. 

The highest forest fire warning remains in Lower Saxony, where firefighters distinguished about 500 square meters of forest and field fire in the small city of Helmstedt on Wednesday evening, smaller forest and field fires also occurred in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia on Wednesday, also due to extreme dry temperatures.

Firefighters extinguish a field fire in Brehna in Saxony-Anhalt on Wednesday. Photo: DPA

However, the intense weather is not causing drop in the temperatures: throughout Germany, Thursday is supposed to stay warm at 25 to 32 degrees. 

The only exceptions are the coastal parts of the country - such as the North Sea - where temperatures will remain a mild 20 degrees with many clouds and occasional rain. 

On Thursday night through Friday, clouds are predicted to coat most of Germany’s skies. In the south, some strong showers and thunderstorms at low temperatures of 11 degrees are expected. 

A graphic on the risk of forest fire in Germany, with green being the lowest risk and red being the highest. Graphic: DPA

The north and the central parts of the country, however, are expected to remain largely dry at 12 to 16 degrees.

For the weekend, the weather could improve again: The Saturday should be sunny and dry according to the meteorologists. Only on the edge of the Alps are rainfall and thunderstorms to be expected. 

Temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 24 degrees in the north of the country and 30 degrees in the rest of the country.

Cars drive through a flooded street in Bietigheim-Bissingen in Baden-Württemberg. Photo: DPA

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