The German Meteorological Service has forecast that temperatures in some parts of the country will rise to almost 40°C by the middle of the week.
Most of the country will see a hot and sunny week, with temperatures reaching 32°C in the Upper Rhine region.
However, it will be cooler along the coast and in the north, in places such as Hamburg and Rostock. At the end of the week, temperatures will range between 20°C and 24°C, with occasional cloudy days providing brief breaks from the sunshine.
As of Monday morning, the German Weather Service (DWD) is forecasting even sunnier weather: on Tuesday, temperatures could be even higher, reaching 36°C in some areas of the southwest.
The national weather service has also issued a heat warning for the south-west of the country, including Munich and Stuttgart, as well as the Rhine region.
Only in the far north of the country are temperatures expected to remain below 30°C, with Tuesday bringing slightly milder conditions of 23°C to 29°C. There will be little respite at night, as temperatures in warm regions are unlikely to fall below 21°C.
A similar picture, but even hotter, will prevail on Wednesday: temperatures across most of the country will range from 31°C to 38°C, with the south-west continuing to experience the hottest weather.
According to the DWD, cool weather is still expected in coastal areas, with showers and thunderstorms possible in the southern lowlands. However, the prolonged sunny spell is expected to end on Thursday with approaching clouds, and thunderstorms and heavy rain are possible in the afternoon.
Although heavy rain is possible in some areas, temperatures are expected to remain high, ranging from 29°C to 38°C.
The stormy weather may continue into the weekend, with thunderstorms, heavy rain, gusty winds and even hail. However, according to the DWD, the weather will still be hot, with temperatures ranging from 28°C to 36°C.
Prolonged heat and humidity can be dangerous for vulnerable people, such as the elderly and young children. The Water and Gas Department warns of “severe heat stress” when temperatures exceed 32°C (with a slight cooling at night) and “extreme heat stress” when temperatures rise above 38°C.
