A unique weather phenomenon will see parts of Germany suffering cold rain while other places enjoy warmth and sunny skies. Here’s how the weather is predicted to play out over the holiday weekend.
A bout of warm, sunny weather in recent days had many in Germany unpacking their summer wear.
But in western parts of the country, the weather has already turned, with Düsseldorf and surrounding cities having seen a dramatic drop in temperatures and scattered showers on Wednesday.
The German weather service (DWD) says that western parts of the country will see cold temperatures and more rain in the coming days whilst eastern regions continue to see sunshine and relative warmth.
Why is the weather so divided right now?
Dramatic differences between Germany’s former eastern and western states are a well understood phenomenon, but it’s rare to see weather patterns between the two sides so divided.
The DWD predicts single-digit temperatures with rain in the west on Wednesday and Thursday whilst in eastern regions it will be just under 30 degrees with plenty of sun in the east. In middle regions a risk of thunderstorms is reported.
According to DWD meteorologist Marco Manitta, the high-contrast weather is due to a pronounced low-pressure zone that currently stretches from North Africa through Italy to the British Isles. The cold air on the western flank of this zone reaches extends far south, and on the other side a warm air mass extends as far north as Scandinavia.
A woman walks withn an umbrella during a rain shower in Frankfurt am Main. Frankfurt may see showers and colder temperatures, especially on Friday. Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP
The result is that in Western Europe it feels as if a last bout of winter weather has moved in, whereas Eastern and Southeastern Europe feel as if summer has already begun.
This strong temperature contrast also brings severe weather – this is expected to affect Italy the most, but may also bring scattered storms to middle sections of Germany.
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Warmest day of the year
“Germany is right on the border between cold and warm air,” explains meteorologist Manitta, according to a DPA report.
In the eastern half, the DWD expects the warmest day of the year so far on Wednesday with highs of up to 27C. Meanwhile in most western regions, temperatures will stay below 20C – even below 15C closer to the western border. There the sky will be cloudy or overcast with scattered rain on Wednesday afternoon.
In the transition area of this air mass boundary – roughly between Swabia and Schleswig-Holstein – isolated strong thunderstorms may develop.
On Thursday, the temperature contrast will be even greater: in the western half under the dense clouds and the intermittent rain, temperatures between 9C to 14C are expected. In the east, summer temperatures will continue, up to 28C in some places with plenty of sun.
Individual strong thunderstorms will continue in the transition zone, which is expected to move between Bavaria and West Mecklenburg.
READ ALSO: How to navigate roads and trains in Germany over the Easter holidays
An inflatable easter bunny stands in a field advertising an Easter event in Werder, Brandenburg. Weather over Easter weekend will be mixed across Germany. Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP
How’s the weather over Easter?
According to the DWD, Easter conditions will perhaps not be as nice as many would would like for holidays.
On Good Friday, heavy rains may continue in parts of the west, and scattered thunderstorms may finally reach the east, too, as the transition zone moves slightly eastward. This will also cause temperatures to dip slightly in the east, with highs around 19C to 23C.
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Throughout the rest of the holidays the weather will be mixed. Temperatures are expected to rise modestly over the weekend in parts of the west to highs between 17C and 23C.
But scattered showers or thunderstorms may continue.
On a positive note, the showers will bring some much needed rain to parts of Germany that are suffering drought conditions. A bit of water on the ground should reduce wildfire risk as well, just in time to ease some tension ahead of Easter bonfires in many western cities.
With reporting by DPA.
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