Heatwave and severe thunderstorms sweep Germany as Salzburg reels from weekend storm
Germany faces temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius followed by severe thunderstorms, after weekend storms knocked out trolleybuses in Salzburg and forced a Bavarian flea market to close early.
Germany faces a heatwave with temperatures up to 38 degrees Celsius, followed by severe thunderstorms. The German Weather Service has warned of extreme weather from Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Weekend storms in Salzburg disabled 20 trolleybuses and triggered nearly 40 fire department emergency calls.
Severe thunderstorms battered Austria's Salzburg region on Sunday evening, August 2, with heavy wind and intense rain disabling 20 trolleybuses and keeping the city's professional fire department busy with nearly 40 emergency calls, according to Austrian reports. A day earlier, a storm had forced an early end to a night flea market in Wasserburg am Inn, Bavaria, where around 400 stallholders were present. Germany now faces a volatile mix of extreme heat and storms. Forecasts for Monday, August 3, predict temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius in parts of the country, with Hesse among the hottest states and up to 38 degrees expected in Baden-Württemberg, according to German media. Localised showers and thunderstorms are expected to follow in the afternoon, particularly in the southwest. The German Weather Service has warned of severe thunderstorms with a risk of extreme weather from Tuesday, August 4, reports say. One weather expert has described the situation as a "Schwergewitterlage" — a severe storm set-up — and suggested a heat record dating back to 2003 could fall, as the Rhine and Danube reportedly hit record low water levels.
Heat up to 38 degrees, then storms: the forecast for Monday
Monday, August 3, 2026, was forecast to bring temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius in parts of Germany, with thunderstorms to follow. Hesse was expected to reach 37 degrees, while in Baden-Württemberg temperatures of up to 38 degrees were predicted, according to publisher reports. The southwest was set for a particularly hot start to the week, with storms moving in later.
Across the country, Monday was forecast to be mostly sunny with occasional cloud, according to reports. The north and northeast were expected to stay dry, but local showers or thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon, especially in the southwest, where cloud buildup and storms were forecast for the afternoon and evening. Temperatures nationwide were expected to range between 23 and 38 degrees.
In eastern Germany, a heatwave was expected to push temperatures as high as 36 degrees Celsius, according to reports.
DWD warns of severe thunderstorms from Tuesday
The German Weather Service (DWD) has warned of severe thunderstorms with a risk of extreme weather starting Tuesday, August 4, according to reports. The alert covers much of the country as the heat builds.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, the DWD warned of local thunderstorms, heavy rain and storm gusts, one outlet reported. The southwest faces some of the worst conditions: forecasts there point to heavy rain of up to 25 litres per square metre within a single hour, along with hail and storm gusts. Cloud buildup and thunderstorms were expected across the region through the afternoon and evening.
One weather expert described the setup as a "Schwergewitterlage" — a severe thunderstorm situation — and said a heatwave was rolling in across all of Germany, raising the possibility that a temperature record dating back to 2003 could be broken.
Storms already batter Salzburg and Bavaria
The severe weather has already made itself felt south of Germany's border. On the evening of Sunday, August 2, strong thunderstorms moved across the entire state of Salzburg in Austria, bringing heavy wind and extremely intense rain, according to reports. Water ingress from the storm disabled 20 trolleybuses in the city of Salzburg, reports said, while the professional fire department responded to nearly 40 emergency calls.
Bavaria had already been hit a day earlier. On the evening of August 1, a severe thunderstorm interrupted the night flea market in Wasserburg am Inn, according to rosenheim24.de. Around 400 exhibitors and many visitors were on site when the storm arrived, and the market was brought to an early end as a result.
Storms have also struck elsewhere in the country in recent days. Thunderstorms with storm gusts moved across parts of Baden-Württemberg, with trees falling onto roads, power lines and vehicles, reports said. Around Munich, thunderstorms and severe weather on the evening of July 31 caused delays and disruption to regional rail services, according to the publisher.
Thunderstorm interrupts night flea market in Wasserburg am Inn
Strong thunderstorms move across the entire state of Salzburg, Austria
Forecast: temperatures up to 37°C in parts of Germany, followed by thunderstorms
Forecast: hot start to the week in southwestern Germany with thunderstorms
Forecast: Hesse to reach 37°C with thunderstorms
Forecast: mostly sunny weather in Germany, with occasional cloudiness
Forecast: dry in northern and northeastern Germany
Forecast: local showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon
Forecast: temperatures between 23°C and 38°C
Forecast: Baden-Württemberg expects temperatures up to 38°C
Forecast: heavy rain expected in Baden-Württemberg at the start of the week
Forecast: cloud buildup and thunderstorms in southwestern Germany in the afternoon and evening
Record low rivers and a possible 2003 heat record
The extreme conditions extend beyond the storms themselves. According to reports, the Rhine and Danube have reached record low water levels as the heat intensifies. A weather expert cited in the coverage says a heatwave is rolling across all of Germany and sees a possibility that a temperature record dating back to 2003 could be broken. The situation has been described as a "Schwergewitterlage" — a severe thunderstorm pattern — and further thunderstorms are expected in the coming days. Forecasters are watching how the heat builds across the country and whether the record from 2003 holds, with the German Weather Service monitoring conditions closely.
Frequently asked questions
How hot will it get in Germany this week?
Forecasts for Monday, August 3, 2026, predicted temperatures up to 37 degrees Celsius in parts of Germany, with Hesse expected to reach that mark. According to one publisher, Baden-Württemberg could see up to 38 degrees, with a nationwide range of 23 to 38 degrees. A weather expert suggested a heatwave was rolling across the whole country and that a temperature record from 2003 could be broken.
When are severe thunderstorms expected in Germany?
According to reports, the German Weather Service (DWD) warned of severe thunderstorms with a risk of extreme weather starting Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Before that, thunderstorms were forecast for Monday afternoon and evening, particularly in southwestern Germany, with heavy rain of up to 25 litres per square metre in an hour, plus hail and storm gusts. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the DWD warned of local thunderstorms, heavy rain and storm gusts.
What happened during the thunderstorm in Salzburg?
According to reports, strong thunderstorms moved across the entire state of Salzburg on the evening of Sunday, August 2, 2026, bringing heavy wind and extremely intense rain. Water ingress disabled 20 trolleybuses, and the city's professional fire department responded to nearly 40 emergency calls. The reports do not specify further damage or casualties.
Was the Wasserburg am Inn night flea market cancelled because of the storm?
According to one publisher, a severe thunderstorm interrupted the night flea market in Wasserburg am Inn on August 1, 2026, forcing it to end early. Around 400 exhibitors and many visitors were present at the time. The report does not say whether anyone was injured or whether significant property damage occurred.
What damage have the thunderstorms caused so far?
According to reports, a thunderstorm with storm gusts moved across parts of Baden-Württemberg, and trees fell onto roads, power lines and vehicles. Around Munich, thunderstorms and severe weather on the evening of July 31 caused delays and disruptions to regional rail services. The full extent of damage or any casualties in Germany is not yet known.
Compiled from reporting by 11 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
