Overview
- As of Tuesday, August 11, the German Weather Service has active heat warnings in southern states and multiple models show a broader heatwave building by midweek with local peaks near 39–40°C.
- Record warmth in June and July has left soils and reservoirs depleted so brief thunderstorms will not restore deep moisture or reverse low river levels.
- The Rhine peg at Kaub and other gauges are at or near historic lows, forcing barges to carry far less cargo and prompting Bavaria and several states to suspend Sunday and holiday truck bans to keep supply chains moving.
- DWD maps show high to very high forest and grassland fire danger in large parts of southern Germany, and experts warn the heat will worsen crop stress, reduce yields and increase the need for animal feed purchases.
- Forecasters say the same heat pattern that raises wildfire and agricultural risk also increases the chance of strong, localized thunderstorms with hail and gusts, but such storms would not deliver the steady, basin‑wide rain needed to end the drought.