Overview
- The national forecast, updated Wednesday by the DWD, points to a rapid warm‑up with 30°C or higher in many areas from Friday through the holiday, with highs near 33°C likely in the southwest.
- Following Wednesday’s showers and isolated thunderstorms with local heavy rain and small hail, forecasters see sunnier, drier weather from Thursday as high pressure takes over.
- Meteorologists trace the surge to a south‑to‑southwest flow known as a Spanish Plume that carries hot air from Spain and North Africa across France into Central Europe.
- Short‑range models highlight the Upper Rhine and parts of Hesse, Baden‑Württemberg and Bavaria as heat hotspots, and some runs hint at 33–35°C early next week, though exact peak locations remain uncertain.
- Austria is set to heat up as well, with Innsbruck near 30°C per GeoSphere Austria, while in Germany experts warn about high UV exposure, heat stress for vulnerable groups, and a rising wildfire risk by Sunday.