Thunderstorms and heavy rain mark summer start in the southwest

The meteorological summer begins pleasantly, but the situation deteriorates faster than many would like. The southwest faces a thunderstorm front with considerable severe weather potential in the coming days. Baden-Württemberg in particular must prepare for thunderstorms with heavy rain and gusts of wind that will characterize the weekend.

Meanwhile, unusually heavy rain is falling along the foothills of the Alps. The Bernese Oberland recently experienced once-in-a-century rainfall before the next thunderstorm front arrives on Tuesday. Anyone planning outdoor activities must keep an eye on the sky – a beer garden visit becomes a weather lottery.

More relaxed situation in Rhineland-Palatinate

The situation in Rhineland-Palatinate remains more relaxed. Many rivers currently carry little water, and experts see no flood risk despite forecast rainfall. However, this could change if precipitation amounts increase significantly in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the Saarland is working on better precautionary measures. The Kligas project is developing a novel flood early warning system designed to give the population more time to prepare. Three Saarland districts began building this improved forecasting infrastructure last year – a lesson learned from the severe storms of previous years.