HEAT AND THUNDER: Berlin July and August 2013

July and August 2013 lead to new weather extremes in Germany and Europe after a monster-flood in June caused tremendous costs and will be remembered as setting new records. The first half of July saw a mix between some colder days, warm weather  and cloudy skies sometimes in Northeast Germany but that changed later dramatically. Hot air from the Sahara not only created a dusty sky but an extraordinary heat wave. Particularly in Berlin people enjoyed the hot temperatures first, as could be seen at the Schlachtensee where locals partied along with young tourists from around the world. However things got a different turn when humidity was rising after July 28. Both days, July 27 and July 28, were extremely hot in the capital but in the evening of July 28 the weather change began with gusts of wind and dark clouds in the evening. However unlike other parts of the country there were no big storms. For a few days it was colder but not for too long:
The heat came back and between August 3 and August 8 this time heavy thunderstorms created a lot of damage in many parts of Germany. In Berlin cellars were flooded and the thunderstorms caused long delays in railway traffic after trees fell upon the tracks between Berlin and Hamburg. In the evening of August 8 the weather calmed and an impressing sunset with red clouds could be seen.

Thunderstorm At A Lake In Berlin, July I, 2013 / Gewitter am Schlachtensee

At the end of June 2013 it was pretty much cold in Middle-Europe but during July 1 warm and humid air lead to thunderstorms in the evening.Thunderstorms in the Berlin area weren’t as strong as in the middle of June (see previous post) but the famous “bread and butter party” on the Tempelhofer Feld had to be interrupted. Since it’s still very bright after 8.00pm the clouds and the evening sky created an interesting atmophere. Pictures and video were taken at Lake Schlachtensee in the South-West of Berlin. The thunderstorm didn’t hit the lake directly but lightning and thunder came close for some time.

A thunderstorm might not move as fast as in the first scene of the video which is a timelapse. However what you never should do is swimming in a lake when a thunderstorm comes closer. The water could carry the current of a lightning and kill people.

Particularly if a lake is situated in a valley like lake Schlachtensee and is surrounded by trees you should be careful. The storm might be closer as it appears at first sight.

The two videos below represent two versions of the same material using different filters and a variation of the use of time-lapse.