The weather in Germany promises to be summery this weekend, but it can also be uncomfortably hot in the south. While cumulus clouds are likely to form in the north-west of the country this Saturday and thunderstorms are possible, meteorologists say it will mostly remain dry in the south-east. In the south, the mercury can rise to 34 degrees. The German Weather Service forecasts temperatures of up to 37 degrees over the course of the weekend, heavy showers and thunderstorms are possible locally.

A much hotter weekend is in store for people in southern Europe. In many places, the temperatures rise to more than 40 degrees, reports the German Press Agency (dpa) – a stressful situation for people, animals and nature.

According to the European space agency Esa, the highest temperatures ever measured in Europe could be reached at the weekend. Esa assumes temperatures of up to 48 degrees in Sicily. So far, the European record is 48.8 degrees, which was reached in August 2021 in Floridia in the Sicily region.

In Spain, a heat wave had recently hit people in many regions badly. The highest temperatures were measured at just under 45 degrees in Andalusia and Murcia. But also on Mallorca the mercury column temporarily exceeded the 40 degree mark. Since Thursday, however, the situation has eased somewhat.

Would you like to know where in Germany the temperatures are currently the highest? The live map below shows it. For a forecast for the coming days, click on the “Play” button at the bottom left. You can also switch the view at the top right of the menu, for example to rain and thunderstorms.

The service is provided by Windy.com. The makers use the model from the “European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts” for their representations and forecasts.

Italy has been suffering from the heat for days. Because of “Cerbero” – the multi-headed hellhound from Greek mythology – the 40-degree mark was cracked in Sardinia and in the Apulia region on Wednesday. For several cities, the Ministry of Health declared the highest red alert for heat. And relaxation is not in sight: “Cerbero” is to be followed by “Caronte” with even higher temperatures.

In Greece, people are also preparing for extremes: In Athens, the thermometer is expected to climb to 41 degrees on Friday. The Ministry of Culture has instructed the managers of archaeological sights such as the Acropolis to temporarily close the visitor magnets for several hours if it gets too hot. Many communities keep air-conditioned halls open for shelter. Particular attention should be paid to the elderly, the sick and small children, it said. In addition, pets and strays should not be forgotten – they should be provided with sufficient water everywhere.

In Bulgaria it is the first heat wave of the year: on Thursday the authorities announced the second highest warning level, Orange – the hottest day since the beginning of the year. There are maximum temperatures of up to 41 degrees in Plovdiv and in Russe on the Danube. According to meteorologists, the heat wave should have the country firmly under control for around ten days. It remains more pleasant with around 32 degrees on the Black Sea coast.

The overview below shows the expected maximum temperatures for today. It is provided by the Wetter.de portal, which, like stern, belongs to RTL Germany. Clicking on the graphic takes you to the provider and you can request further details.

The tips below are taken from the brochure “Climate Change and Health” by the DWD and the Federal Environment Agency, which can be downloaded here:

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Sources: “Wetter.de”, German Weather Service, dpa