Extreme heat in Spain is always an indication of a hot summer in Germany. Weather experts are now announcing the first forecasts for summer 2023.
Kassel – The first major heat wave hit Spain back in April. Meanwhile, temperatures in Germany are rather mild with frequent rain showers. Even though the first outdoor pools opened in May, the great bathing fun in sunshine has so far failed to materialize. But that is set to change in June.
Experts see extreme weather in Spain as an indication of hot summer in Germany
So far, a hot and dry spring in Western Europe has meant that there is a very high probability that Germany is facing a hot summer. According to the weather experts at the Weather Channel, this is mainly due to the severe drought in Spain and Portugal, which is causing the heat to spread rapidly.
However, due to the wet and humid spring in Germany and the high soil moisture, the heat waves cannot spread as quickly as in other countries. "This dampens this effect," said meteorologist Jan Schenk of the Weather Channel: "For us, these heat waves will not be quite as long this summer," predicted the weather expert for Germany.
From June onwards, summer temperatures can be expected, but this will not be as extreme as in Spain and France. Because it rained much less there in spring than in Germany. And high-pressure systems prefer dry soil to spread. Thus, the sometimes extreme weather conditions in May have a mitigating effect on the climate in summer.
Already in the spring, the extreme heat reached Spain. Is this an indicator of a hot summer in Germany? © IlluPics/IMAGO
Will El Niño bring the hot summer of 2023 to Germany?
Nevertheless, according to Wetter.de, it should be dry and warmer than average from June, even if the weather in southern Germany could be a bit unstable and thundery. However, the first hot days with values of around 28 degrees are not expected until the last third of June. In 2022, the eruption of the underwater volcano Tonga in particular led to heat waves, meteorologist Schenk explained at the Weather Channel. The water vapor released into the stratosphere caused extreme heat. This year, however, this has no effect on a possible hot summer.
Another indicator of a hot summer in 2023 is the ocean current in the Pacific. Three months ago, satellite images showed La Niña. Now it has become El Niño. However, according to weather expert Schenk, this will not affect the coming summer. More likely from winter onwards, effects on temperatures can be expected at the earliest. According to the meteorologist, we can look forward to summer temperatures in Germany "sometimes up to 35 degrees" from June. However, an extreme heat wave like in 2022 is not to be expected so far. Meanwhile, Spain and Italy are already struggling with extreme drought and drinking water shortages. (mima)
