Following heavy rainfall in Germany, a significant cooling trend is underway. Temperatures below minus 40 degrees Celsius have already been recorded in the far north of Europe. What can we expect in terms of cold temperatures in Germany?
Winter with temperatures down to -40 degrees
The far north of Europe has ushered in the New Year with sub-zero temperatures, marking the coldest conditions in twelve years in some places like Umeå. Following heavy rainfall and flooding in Franconia, the return to permafrost is imminent. Meteorologist Dominik Jung predicts that the flood situation will gradually improve starting from Friday, January 5, 2024. However, around Epiphany on the first weekend of January, much colder temperatures are expected. Many areas affected by flooding will transform into icy landscapes, experiencing spontaneous freezing. Wetter.de forecasts that Germany is on the verge of a ‘frosty freezer,‘ with some places experiencing nighttime temperatures dropping below minus 10 degrees.
Read also: Important changes for employees in Germany coming in January 2024
“Extreme weather change” It’s going to be frosty in Germany
The rapid cooling is expected to commence on Saturday, January 6, 2024, in northern Germany as cold air from the Arctic infiltrates the country. Hamburg, for instance, will experience temperatures as low as 3 degrees on Friday. By Sunday at the latest, winter weather will prevail almost everywhere in Germany, signalling the end of the flood situation. Meteorologist Dominik Jung anticipates a significant drop in water levels from the weekend onward, marking the onset of winter in Germany.
Read also: Important changes for drivers in Germany in 2024
Permafrost may occur throughout the day, almost everywhere until the weekend, with rivers being the only areas retaining slightly positive temperatures. Jung notes the abrupt shift in weather, predicting that winter will persist beyond just one or two days. According to him, the era of warm and wet days is over, and a ‘frost shock’ is imminent. Here are the weather forecasts for the next few days:
- Wednesday (03/01/2024): from 8 to 12 degrees, more rain
- Thursday (04/01/2024): from 0 to 10 degrees, light rain, sleet or snow in the north
- Friday (05/01/2024): -1 to +10 degrees, snowfall in the northeast, more rain elsewhere
- Saturday (06/01/2024): -2 to +5 degrees, a mix of sun and clouds, rain and sleet, snowfall in the south
- Sunday (07/01/2024): -4 to +2 degrees, cold and a mix of sun and thick clouds in the south, snowfall
- Monday (08/01/2024): -5 to 0 degrees, frosty winter weather, some sun from time to time, otherwise a lot of clouds and fog
- Tuesday (09/01/2024): -4 to +2 degrees, mixed, with clouds and fog.
- Wednesday (10/01/2024): -1 to +3 degrees, little sun, fog
- Thursday (11/01/2024): from 0 to 4 degrees, slightly milder with a lot of fog.
How long is the cold winter expected to last?
In Munich, the upcoming week will witness temperatures ranging from a high of minus 7 degrees to a low of minus 17 degrees. Wetter.de predicts that some Alpine cities might experience temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees. The cold spell is anticipated to persist for approximately a week. A milder and wetter phase is forecasted to occur in mid-January, although it will still be only slightly above the normal January average. As a result, most of the expected precipitation during this period will likely fall as snow. January, therefore, promises to be a truly delightful winter month for both the low mountain ranges and the Alps.