Suche
Mein Konto
Extreme heat wave hits Cologne: DWD warns of thunderstorms and storms!
Extreme temperatures of up to 40 degrees and subsequent storms are predicted in Cologne. Experts warn of health risks.
Extreme heat wave hits Cologne: DWD warns of thunderstorms and storms!
The summer heat has Germany firmly under control, and Cologne is no exception. According to that Cologne City Gazette The city's residents are currently struggling with temperatures that could reach up to 40 degrees. This unbearable heat is expected to peak as early as Wednesday and poses an exceptional health challenge, particularly for older people and other vulnerable groups. The night brings no cooling, which further exacerbates the situation.
The German Weather Service (DWD) has issued an official warning of extreme heat, which will apply on Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The warning affects almost all of North Rhine-Westphalia, with the exception of some parts of the Sauerland and the Bergisches Land. This heat wave is the fourth in a row and experts point out that such extreme events are becoming more and more common. A connection with that Climate change is obvious, as the DWD recently reported that many temperature records in Germany are now considered normal.
Severe weather warnings and temperature drops
But after the extreme heat wave, storms are also expected. The DWD has announced a thunderstorm with heavy rain and violent squalls for the afternoon. In some regions below Cologne, rainfall amounts of 20 to 40 liters per square meter are expected, locally even up to 60 liters. In addition, hail with diameters of 2 to 4 cm and wind speeds of up to 130 km/h could cause significant damage. The population is warned that there is a high level of danger from falling trees or falling roof tiles. Staying outdoors is strongly discouraged.
In Cologne itself, the violent thunderstorm is expected from around 6 p.m. But already on Thursday the weather will show a different face: the temperatures will fall by more than 10 degrees and will only be 25 degrees. After a few showers, it should become dry again and the thermometer could climb towards 30 degrees again next weekend.
Long-term effects of climate change
The current freak weather is just one aspect of the comprehensive effects of the climate change in Germany. Heat waves, floods and droughts are becoming more and more common, which not only affects the health of citizens, but also agriculture and other sectors of the economy. Experts warn that this particularly affects vulnerable groups in large cities, who are disproportionately affected by lower, pleasant temperatures.
Agriculture is suffering from increasing extreme weather events, which often lead to floods or water shortages. This not only affects yields, but also the availability of water in the region. Tobias Fuchs, a member of the DWD management team, is therefore calling for quick action in climate protection, as every tenth of a degree of warming avoided is crucial.
The people of Cologne are called upon to prepare for the upcoming freak weather and adapt to the challenges of climate change. Close cooperation between politics, science and society is necessary in order to develop effective measures and minimize the negative effects.