Large parts of the country are groaning under the heat: The German Weather Service predicts up to 37 degrees for eastern Germany.
Towards the weekend there could be heavy thunderstorms.
Berlin (dpa) - The heat wave causes peak temperatures in Germany.
In the morning, the German Meteorological Service (DWD) warned almost all of Germany against widespread strong heat load, only on narrow coastal strips and in the foothills of the Alps it should not be so extreme.
With a southerly current “hot air of subtropical origin comes to Germany”, it says in the warning report.
The air also becomes "more humid and therefore noticeably more humid".
In addition, there is an increased risk of forest fires.
Maximum temperatures of up to 37 degrees
People have to be prepared for these temperatures: According to the DWD, it is "widespread hot with 30 to 37 degrees with the highest values in the east", at least it should be more pleasant at the North Sea with 20 to 26 degrees.
According to the weather service, there is a high risk of storms on Saturday night from the Emsland to the North Sea and on Saturday during the day, especially in a strip from West Mecklenburg via Thuringia to southern Germany: "There is again a risk of severe weather locally due to large hail, heavy squalls and heavy rain."
Münster / Osnabrück Airport is the hottest place
The hottest place in Germany was Münster / Osnabrück Airport on Thursday: According to the DWD, a peak temperature of 35.5 degrees was reached there.
As beautiful as the summer weather is for many people in Germany, there is a risk of fire in forests.
The DWD forest fire risk index shows alarming red to dark red spots for the weekend including Friday.
The index is racing towards the highest forest fire warning level, said a DWD spokesman.
Increased risk of forest fires
The weather experts see a high level of danger in northeast Germany in particular. The top soil layers there are too dry. A possible fire could also get bigger quickly if the wind came up again and again. DWD forest fire expert Christopher Böttcher sums it up like this: Air humidity, wind speed, precipitation, temperature and solar radiation are important factors.
Heavy thunderstorms hit parts of France on Thursday evening.
Hail, heavy rain and gusts of wind caused great damage, especially in the south-west of the country.
Thousands of households in the Occitania region, for example, were without electricity.
The regional newspaper “La Dépêche du Midi” reported there on numerous blocked or impassable roads.
Several trees fell because of the strong wind.
At least two people were injured.
For large parts of France, the Météo-France weather service had declared the high warning level orange because of the heat thunderstorms.
Cool off by the water
Many people seek cooling in lakes, rivers and the sea - but open waters harbor dangers.
Two people drowned in the Baltic Sea.
In front of Rügen, rescue workers pulled a 43-year-old lifeless from the water near Göhren on Thursday, as the police announced on Friday night.
Your attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
His brother had reported the man missing.
According to the police, it was the first such swimming accident on Rügen this season.
A 71-year-old woman died near Greifswald after bathing in the Baltic Sea.
From the beach in Lubmin, her husband had noticed that she was floating lifeless in the water.
He pulled her out of the water with the help of other beachgoers.
But even in this case, attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful.
The woman died on the way to the hospital.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210618-99-41471 / 5
DWD hazard index
Forest fire hazard in Brandenburg
Twittering trees Thünen Institute
Twittering beech
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With the first heat wave of the year in Germany, the risk of forest fires continues to increase.
© Julian Stratenschulte