Heat wave in Austria and Germany: peaks up to 35 degrees, humidity makes the discomfort even more intense

The picture in Austria: from Wednesday the great heat

The heat wave does not concern only Austria. In Hesse, in central Germany, hr broadcaster meteorologist Tim Staeger confirmed on Monday that a mass of warm and humid air will move from the southwest toward the region starting from Wednesday. On Wednesday maximum temperatures will reach 31 degrees, then rise to 34 degrees on Thursday and touch the preliminary peak of 35 degrees on Friday in the Rhine-Main and southern Hesse areas.

The definition of heat wave, three consecutive days with maximum temperatures above 30 degrees at a weather station, will also be reached in northern Hesse, Staeger specified. However, the most relevant aspect concerns physical discomfort: starting from Thursday the hot climate will become particularly heavy for the body. Mugginess, according to the expert, worsens the perception of heat.

Hesse: Staeger's warning and the mugginess effect

On Monday cumulative precipitation in Hesse exceeded 40 percent of the monthly rain target, Staeger recalled, signaling a context of high humidity. On Tuesday local rains are expected in Hesse, with clearings in the afternoon and temperatures up to 27 degrees. Nights, however, will remain warm, offering little relief.

On the Austrian front, an upper-level low will initially cause unstable conditions, with showers and thunderstorms that may affect all regions in the afternoon. In particular, in Lower Carinthia, southern Styria and southern Burgenland intense thunderstorm cells are expected, as Geosphere Austria warns. Only in the southeast, in the afternoon, cumuliform clouds will develop with possible isolated showers or thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms and instability: the flip side of the coin

On Thursday, after a sunny start, violent heat thunderstorms are expected, especially in the south and southeast, with oppressive temperatures up to 33 degrees. In Austria 30 degrees will be reached anyway. Increasing humidity will favor, on Friday and Saturday, the formation of local afternoon thunderstorms in unstable conditions, without significant precipitation at a general level.

Staeger compared the perceived effect of humidity to that of a steam blast in a sauna: «Man muss sich das vorstellen wie beim Aufguss in der Sauna: dadurch geht die Luftfeuchtigkeit hoch, die Temperatur bleibt aber gleich; trotzdem fühlt es sich deutlich wärmer an». The body cools itself through sweating and evaporation, but the muggy air reduces this effect, the expert explained: «Der Körper kühlt sich mit Schwitzen und der Schweiß verdunstet, aber durch die schwüle Luft wird dieser Kühlungseffekt verringert».

Outlook: weekend and next week

In terms of consequences, Staeger noted that a 2-degree drop after several days of heat is barely perceived, because surfaces, especially in cities, remain overheated: «aber nach mehreren heißen Tagen mache sich ein Temperaturrückgang von 2 Grad kaum bemerkbar, weil die Steine besonders in den Städten noch erhitzt sind». The expert described the weather as ideal for those who want to go to an outdoor pool, but exhausting for others: «Für viele ist das gutes Freibadwetter, für andere eine anstrengende Witterung».

After Friday's peak, maximum temperatures should decrease slightly over the weekend. «Im Moment sieht es so aus, als ob die Höchstwerte am Wochenende minimal zurückgehen», Staeger reported. The end of the episode or the heat wave will depend on the cooling effect of the thunderstorms expected at the end of the weekend. The forecast remains uncertain, but a summery, sunny and mostly dry phase is looming for the following week: «Die Prognose sei zwar unsicher, so Staeger, aber in der neuen Woche zeichne sich eine sommerlich sonnige und meist trockene Phase ab».

Climate context and precautions

On the climate front, according to scientific consensus repeated heat waves are an unequivocal indicator of global warming and are destined to multiply, prolong and intensify. The expected episode stands out for its closeness to the summer solstice, with days among the longest of the year, which limits the nighttime temperature drop and keeps the heat also at night, offering little relief to the body.

In the meantime, storm winds, rain and intense cloud cover still characterize the meteorological picture in many Austrian regions. Gusts, showers and thunderstorms will mark the initial part of the week, before high pressure and heat take over. Authorities recommend caution, hydration and attention to the elderly and frail people during heat peaks.