Cool off in Berlin's Schlachtensee
Photo: Jochen Eckel / imago imagesGermany faces a midsummer weekend with temperatures of up to 38 degrees. The German Weather Service (DWD) forecasts a lot of sunshine on Saturday. Only in the northeast can cumulus clouds gather in the afternoon. Temperatures in the foothills of the Alps reach 26 to 30 degrees, otherwise the values climb to 31 to 38 degrees. On the coasts it shouldn't get quite as hot when the wind is cooling.
On Friday it was the hottest in North Rhine-Westphalia with around 36 degrees. According to the DWD, the maximum value was measured at 36.2 degrees in Tönisvorst, followed by Cologne with 35.7 degrees and Kleve with 35.6 degrees. On Saturday, too, the greatest heat with up to 38 degrees should be again in the west. The summer heat is still a few degrees away from a temperature record in Germany - the 42-degree mark was cracked in July of last year.
The drought in large parts of Germany means there is a high risk of forest fires. According to the DWD, the second highest danger level 4 applies almost nationwide, in parts of eastern Germany even the highest warning level 5. Only in the foothills of the Alps does the situation look relaxed due to the recent rainfall with warning level 2.
From midday onwards, the weather service expects a widespread, sometimes even extreme, heat load on Saturday. In the afternoon and evening, strong thunderstorms can occasionally develop in the northeast - then heavy rain, hail and squalls are also possible.
Midsummer also presents itself in a similar way on Sunday: In the east some clouds can be seen - from the late afternoon onwards again with lightning and thunder. Otherwise the sun shines everywhere. Temperatures reach 31 to 36 degrees - in the west, according to the DWD, even up to 38 degrees are possible again.
Icon: The mirrorhpi / dpa