Latest news with #DWD
Local Germany
16-07-2025
- Climate
- Local Germany
Summer storms continue in Germany as expected heatwave falls away
Germany had been bracing for its next heatwave, but a sudden shift means you should keep your rain jacket handy instead. Since mid-Tuesday several regions in Germany have been hit by severe storms including parts of Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin and Brandenburg. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue across much of Germany on Wednesday, with particularly heavy rain expected in the eastern half of northern Bavaria, according to the German weather service (DWD). As of about 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the DWD has wind warnings in place across the southern half of Germany, and thunderstorm warnings in in place in the west from Düsseldorf to Hanover, west of Berlin in Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg, and in places along Germany's southern border. Th forecast for Thursday is to begin with heavy thunderstorms in the southeast in the early hours. But then the weather is expected to calm somewhat with dry, party cloudy conditions in many regions through most of the day and high temperatures in the 18 to 24C range. The north-eastern section of the country can expect mostly cloudy conditions with some scattered showers on Thursday, whereas the south-west can expect clear to partly-cloudy skies and drier conditions. Conditions are expected to get gradually drier and warmer on Friday and Saturday. In the north-east isolated showers and brief thunderstorms may continue through Friday, but are expected to have mostly cleared up by Saturday, which may prove to bring sunny summer conditions. In the south-west sunny, dry conditions are expected as early as Friday with temperatures up to 30C in some places. However, the warm, sunny weather may not last long as further storms and cool weather could move up from the south and southwest toward central parts of the country on Sunday night. Possible heavy rain events on the horizon In a weather report by meteorologist Dominik Jung warned about the possibility of potentially dangerous rain events in the near future. Specifically, the meteorologist suggests there are signs of a potential "Vb" weather situation brewing. Vb weather conditions refer to a pattern seen specifically in Europe. The term was coined by German meteorologist Wilhelm Jacob van Bebber in 1891 to describe a low pressure system that moves toward the Mediterranean Sea before turning north towards Germany and/or the Czech Republic, Poland and Scandinavia. Advertisement Warm, humid conditions in the Mediterranean can super-charge storms, allowing a large amount of water to be absorbed which is later dropped (sometimes quickly) over central Europe. This kind of weather pattern caused flooding in southern and eastern parts of Germany in June 2024 . READ ALSO: Where in Germany do homeowners face the greatest flood risk? With water temperatures in the Mediterranean currently four to five degrees warmer than the long-term average for this time of year, conditions could be ripe for a potential massive rainfall event in Germany. Advertisement Jung wrote that "Initial model calculations show a possible 100 to 200 litres of rain per square the Alpine region to the Ore Mountains and up to the Baltic Sea". However, a severe rain event is far from certain at the moment. Meteorologists will continue monitoring the situation over the coming days.
Indianapolis Star
15-07-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana Department of Workforce Development lays off 123 state employees
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development laid off 123 employees this week to accommodate reduced state and federal funding, the latest in a flurry of staffing cuts as Gov. Mike Braun's administration pursues efficiency. The bulk of the layoffs affected employees working on the state's unemployment insurance program, with 57 employees laid off. The department removed an additional 48 people helping with workforce programs and laid off 18 people working in administration. 'The Department of Workforce Development experienced budget reductions at both the state and federal levels. As a result, operational adjustments were necessary to ensure we remain fiscally responsible in how we serve Indiana,' the department said in an emailed statement. 'The decision to reduce staff was made with great care and consideration. Our teams work with Hoosiers every day- including those navigating unemployment- and that perspective helped guide our decision-making process.' The cuts at DWD are the latest to hit state agencies, which saw more than 50 employees across agencies like the Department of Education and the Indiana State Library let go in June. At the time, Braun told IndyStar his staff was looking for places to cut that would make state government more efficient. Employment within DWD peaked in April 2021 at 1,272, according to the Indiana Transparency Portal. The current total number of employees sits at 791, meaning the department has reduced more than a third of its staff in four years. However, current numbers are closer to pre-pandemic levels — the department had 772 employees six years ago. The layoffs follow Braun's executive order from February targeting unemployment insurance fraud. That order requires DWD to take extra measures to ensure applicant eligibility and provide quarterly progress reports to the governor. State data shows there are now 67 people working in unemployment insurance: 38 in quality control, 16 in the tax department, eight in a category labelled 'Integrity/TrustFund' and five cashiers. This story may be updated.
Daily Tribune
03-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Tribune
European heatwave moves eastwards
A punishing early summer heatwave that has already scorched western and southern Europe spread east yesterday, bringing extreme weather warnings to Germany and reportedly causing motorways to buckle. But some relief is due to arrive from the Atlantic and spread across the continent. Germany's national weather service (DWD) warned of 'exceptionally high' temperatures reaching close to 40C degrees (104F) in places yesterday. In Berlin, 18-year-old Nora said her strawberry stand on the side of the road felt 'like a sauna' before temperatures had even reached their peak. Hot sun Her boss had told her to close the stall if she felt unwell, as the German capital sweated under a hot sun, Nora told AFP. The heat was causing disruptions to transport, with Germany's national rail operator Deutsche Bahn warning of impaired services in the west of the country, where temperatures were highest. In the north-west close to the city of Bremen, the heat had caused the surface of the motorway to buckle in places, creating a danger for drivers, local media reported. The acute high temperatures added to an extended period of unusually hot and dry weather through the first half of the year. As well as an increased risk of forest fires, Germany's rivers are also running low, causing problems for navigating the country's waterways. In the eastern city of Dresden, the level of the Elbe river has sunk to just 64 centimetres (25 inches), compared with an average of around two metres.
The Journal
02-07-2025
- Climate
- The Journal
German rivers run low and roads buckle as European heatwave spreads eastward
THE EUROPEAN HEATWAVE that has already scorched the western and southern parts of the continent began spreading eastwards today, bringing extreme weather warnings to Germany and causing motorways to buckle. There is some level of reprieve in sight though. Colder weather is due to arrive from the Atlantic and spread across the continent tomorrow, but it also brings with it the chance of thunderstorms. Today, Germany's national weather service (DWD) warned of 'exceptionally high' temperatures reaching close to 40 degrees in places. The heat has caused disruptions to transport, with Germany's national rail operator Deutsche Bahn warning of impaired services in the west of the country, where temperatures are highest. In the north-west, close to the city of Bremen, the heat caused the surface of the motorway to buckle in places, creating a danger for drivers, local media reported. The acute high temperatures have added to an extended period of unusually hot and dry weather through the first half of the year. Firefighters gather to fight a fire at the edge of a grain field in Auras, Germany Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo As well as an increased risk of forest fires, Germany's rivers are also running low, causing problems for navigating the country's waterways. In the eastern city of Dresden, the level of the Elbe river has sunk to just 64 centimetres, compared with an average of around two metres. Holger Boehme, the owner of a floating theatre said it was 'strange' to see the usually wide river shrink to a fraction of its usual size. 'There has always been high water and low water, but this type of extreme high water and extreme low is truly new in recent years,' Boehme told AFP. The current levels of Germany's rivers are typically more likely to be seen at the end of the summer, Matthias Roeser from the Federal Association of German Inland Navigation said. In Berlin, 18-year-old Nora said her strawberry stand on the side of the road felt 'like a sauna' before temperatures had even reached their peak. Her boss had told her to close the stall if she felt unwell, as the German capital sweated under a hot sun, she told the AFP news agency. People get some relief from the high temperatures in Paris Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo In France, temperatures cooled slightly overnight and into this morning but remain high. Advertisement Paris was expected to experience highs of around 35C after hitting 40C yesterday, according to weather service Meteo-France. French Health Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed it was 'too early to take stock' of the consequences of the heatwave. But for the Paris metro area there has been a 'serious' increase in emergency services' activity of around 15%. An official estimate of the excess mortality linked to the heatwave would take two weeks for French authorities to compile, the ministry indicated. Residents in Spain and Italy may have to wait until the weekend before they experience a drop in temperatures. In Madrid, care worker Grace Guerrero, 65, told AFP she could really 'feel the heat' but the air was cooler at her home outside the Spanish capital. A vendor sells hats during the heatwave in Madrid, Spain Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo A 75-year-old man died in the southern city of Cordoba today, bringing the total number of heat related deaths over the last 10 days in Spain to at least four. Barcelona adopted plans to extend protections for sanitation workers in heatwaves, including more water breaks, after a woman died on Saturday after her shift. In Italy, at Rome's ancient forum, archaeological excavation work stopped early at around 12:30 pm today as temperatures reached 35 degrees. Elena Civitelli, an archaeologist with two decades of experience, told AFP she could not remember 'suffering so much in the early hours of the morning' as she had in recent days. Belgium has continued to experience high temperatures, particularly in Brussels, but coastal areas are already experiencing lower temperatures, and cool winds blowing in from the Atlantic are expected to see highs in France drop to near 28 degrees tomorrow. The colder front would, however, bring with it the possibility of heavy thunderstorms, according to Meteo-France. The German weather service also warned of storms in eastern Germany and has already issued weather warnings for severe winds and rain in isolated areas in the western part of the country, with temperatures expected to drop to around 30 degrees or below over the next two days. - © AFP 2025 Unsure of what exactly is happening with the earth's climate? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank
NDTV
02-07-2025
- Climate
- NDTV
Heatwave In Europe Moves East, Germany Expected To Record High Temperatures
Germany: A punishing heatwave loosened its gripped on western Europe Wednesday and rolled eastwards, with Germany expected to record some of its hottest temperatures of the year so far. Germany's national weather service (DWD) issued blanket weather warnings for heat and extreme heat covering the entire country. The agency said it expected "maximum temperatures with exceptionally high peaks of up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Farenheit)" in the course of the day. The unsually hot weather was causing disruptions to transport, with the national rail operator Deutsche Bahn saying it expected services to be affected in the west of the country where temperatures were rising most. In the north of the country, the heat had caused the surface of the motorway to buckle in places, creating a danger for drivers, local media reported. In Berlin, 18-year-old Nora said her job at a kiosk selling strawberries was "a bit like a sauna", with the temperature already at 26C at 8:30 am. "I've never sold strawberries in this sort of heat," she said, adding that her employer had told her to shut the kiosk if she felt unwell. Further south in Frankfurt teacher Horst Hirsch said he expected "to work and to sweat" in a day full of lessons and meetings and planned to "not do any exercise and drink lots of water". In France, the temperature gauge hit 40C in Paris on Tuesday, according to weather service Meteo-France, with a lower high of 35C expected Wednesday. Relief will reach the French capital in earnest on Thursday, when the high will drop to 28C as cooler winds blow in from the Atlantic, bringing with them the potential for thunderstorms. 'Really unbearable' Meanwhile, residents in Spain and Italy may have to wait until the weekend before they experience a drop in temperatures. Care worker Grace Guerrero, 65, told AFP she could really "feel the heat" in Madrid but the air was cooler at her home outside the Spanish capital. The sweltering temperatures were "really unbearable on the subway platform", 60-year-old quality manager Julia Munoz said while cooling herself with a fan. In Belgium, lower temperatures were expected on the coast while the heatwave was set to continue in the east and south. The Atomium attraction in Brussels, where highs of 34C were expected, would maintain reduced opening hours for the second day in a row on Wednesday to spare visitors from the afternoon heat. In the country's Dutch-speaking north, students have already broken up for the summer, but in the French-speaking south schools have stayed open through the heatwave. Staff at the schools were working to keep children cool using fans and air-conditioning where available, water play, outdoor breaks in the shade, or in some cases giving parents the option to keep them home. The heatwave saw class cancelled for pupils at some 2,000 schools in France on Tuesday, although only around 135 were expected to stay shut Wednesday, according to the education ministry. 'Tropical' In the Netherlands, the country experienced its first "tropical" night of the year into Wednesday with temperatures not dropping below 20C, according to the weather website Weeronline. A shepherd in the central Netherlands told local media Omroep Gelderland that he was up unusually early to let his sheep out on Wednesday morning after the muggy night. "Animals tolerate the cold better than the heat... you have to be careful," the livestock holder Aart said, noting that his flock kept their coats through the heat. "Without the fleece, they would, for example, get sunburned much faster," he said. High temperatures were a stress for people, too, prompting authorities to issue warnings for the very old, young, the sick and other vulnerable groups. "Due to climate change caused by humans, extreme heat is becoming more frequent and intense. This is something we must learn to live with," said Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a UN agency based in Geneva. Extreme heat can cause dehydration, muscle cramps, headaches and nausea. The most serious risk is heatstroke, which can lead to death.
