Overview
- The heatwave is intensifying and is forecast to peak around Friday–Saturday with widespread daytime highs above 30°C and local maxima near 38–40°C, especially in the southwest and Oberrhein region.
- A northwest‑moving cold front is now expected to reach Germany around Sunday and to trigger showers, thunderstorms and locally heavy rain with possible hail and strong gusts.
- Medium‑range model runs diverge on the post‑front pattern: ECMWF and several European ensembles increasingly favour a shift to cooler, unsettled weather from mid‑August while the U.S. GFS keeps higher temperatures for longer, leaving the late‑August outlook uncertain.
- Persistent drought and very low river levels, notably on the Rhine, are already disrupting shipping, industry and farming and short, intense rainfall would be unlikely to fully relieve low flows or soil moisture deficits.
- Clear, mostly cloudless conditions ahead of the change improve visibility for the partial solar eclipse and Perseids but also raise heat stress and the chance of tropical nights; follow DWD and regional services for local warnings and timing.