Heat wave brings the highest risk of forest fire - Germany on alert!

Heat wave brings the highest risk of forest fire - Germany on alert!

Wittenberg, Deutschland - Germany is under a oppressive heat wave that will make us sweat properly in the next few days. A temperature range between 30 and 35 degrees awaits us on Monday. It will be particularly crisp on Wednesday, when the thermometers could even display maximum values ​​of 37 or 38 degrees. The forecasts indicate that the heat continues by Thursday, where we can also count on possible thunderstorms. And Friday brings a little relief, with cooler temperatures around 25 degrees. But be careful: this persistent heat also brings with it a serious danger.

forest fire is the topic of the hour. In view of the long-lasting drought, numerous regions, including Wittenberg in Saxony-Anhalt, have reached the highest risk level 5. An alarming level 4 also applies to parts of Thuringia. The situation in Saxony is worrying, where you can also expect level 4 or even 5. In Central Germany, the population and the fire brigade must be constantly prepared for possible forest fires, according to MDR.

A drought summer is announced

The weather situation seems to be transformed into a drought that we could soon see as one of the most striking features in summer 2025. According to [frisn.de] (https://www.fr.de/panorama/licht-wetter-progn-chmacht-hitze-hitze-and-hoechste-waldbrand danger-and-not-in-zr-zr-93807606.html) in the next two weeks there is no large-scale rain phase in sight, and the soil moisture will continue to disappear. Shocking 2.8 degrees above the long-term means of Junis make it clear that this summer we may remember the drought year 2003 or 2018. June 2025 could be one of the driest and warmest since the beginning of the weather records.

The combination of extreme heat and persistent drought not only ensures an increased fire risk, but also affects nature. Dreamy floors and yellowed grass are just a few of the visible consequences, and the water levels in rivers fall dramatically. Forests show stress symptoms, and in many cities there must be increased ozone load. The first small forest fires have already been reported, and the fire brigades are on an increased willingness to alert.

heat record in Europe

We are not alone with our heat wave. A look across the border to southern Europe shows that countries such as Spain and Portugal already suffer temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. A heat record of 46 degrees was even set up in El Granado, and in other cities in Spain, heat alarm and health warnings are the order of the day. The situation is also tense in Greece and Italy - temperatures are just as high as ours, and forest fires have already broken out in some regions. The Süddeutsche reports of the massive floors through the heat, which also affects shipping on the Rhine, since cargo ships can only drive half-loaded.

The coming weeks could be a real challenge for Germany if we will not experience a fundamental change in weather soon. So stay vigilant and enjoy the few cooler temperatures that Friday could bring us!