The town of Bocholt has issued a warning about severe weather and an extreme heatwave this weekend

The German Weather Service has issued an official warning for the coming weekend regarding a significantly increased risk of severe weather and extreme heat. From Saturday afternoon onwards, the Bocholt area may also experience severe thunderstorms accompanied by heavy downpours, hail and gusts of wind. The city council is asking the public to keep a close eye on weather developments and to take appropriate precautions.

The latest forecasts from the German Weather Service suggest a two-part risk scenario for the whole weekend. Significant heat stress will begin to build up as early as Saturday, which may intensify further on Sunday and place a heavy strain on the body. Members of the public are therefore advised to avoid direct exposure to the heat, particularly at midday and in the afternoon, to drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, and to look out for vulnerable people.

Alongside the high temperatures, the risk of severe storms will rise rapidly from Saturday afternoon onwards. Isolated, and in some cases extremely powerful, thunderstorm cells are expected to develop, which may bring locally heavy rainfall of up to 50 litres per square metre in a short space of time, as well as hail. According to meteorologists, the situation in the north-west will worsen further in the evening and overnight into Sunday, meaning that severe gusts or gale-force winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour cannot be ruled out.

On Sunday, the severe weather conditions will remain at a high level across the whole of Germany and in the region. Even though it is difficult to pinpoint the exact local locations of the thunderstorm cells in advance, there remains a potential for extreme developments involving heavy downpours. The town of Bocholt advises those taking part in outdoor leisure activities to keep a close eye on weather reports and warnings via well-known warning apps such as NINA or KATWARN. Loose objects outdoors should be secured in good time, and people should immediately cease outdoor activities if a thunderstorm is approaching. The fire service and law enforcement agencies are prepared for the forecast weather conditions so that they can respond as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency.