Storm alarm in Cologne: There is a threat of heavy rain and hail!

Storm alarm in Cologne: There is a threat of heavy rain and hail!

On Thursday, August 28, 2025, we are heading towards a storm front that could really shake up North Rhine-Westphalia, including Cologne. According to the latest forecasts from... Germany's weather service Expect hail, stormy gusts and heavy rain. The weather situation becomes particularly explosive from the afternoon onwards, when thunderstorms and thunderstorms move in from the west. There is a risk of local heavy rain amounts of between 15 and 25 liters per square meter in a very short period of time, and even up to 30 liters cannot be ruled out.

Depending on the weather model, between 5 and 20 liters of rain per square meter can be expected in the Cologne city area. The ECMWF model in particular gives us little hope - it expects 20 liters by Friday morning and even up to 50 liters by the end of the week. You have to be careful! The DWD's ICON model, on the other hand, shows more pessimistic orders with only around 5 liters by Friday morning. The temperatures are usually between 23 and 26 degrees, so we might sweat but also get our feet wet.

Severe weather warnings and forecasts

We will also be informed about the current weather situation German Weather Service reported. A low pressure complex over the northeast Atlantic brings warm, moist air to North Rhine-Westphalia, resulting in thunderstorms and heavy rain. These storms can also be expected in Cologne from midday onwards, with local gusts of between 60 and 70 km/h possible. The tension between the weather fronts will ease in the evening, but showers and thunderstorms will remain on Friday night before it remains unsettled in the coming days.

After a few rain showers and some freshening winds on Friday morning, the weather forecast is initially better. During the day it will be partly cloudy and initially dry, but from the evening onwards clouds and showers will appear again. Partly clear and partly cloudy periods are also expected on Saturday, before showery precipitation could occur towards Sunday.

Prepare for possible storms

If you would like to find out about severe weather warnings, you can Severe Weather Center consult, which provides an overview map of severe weather risks throughout North Rhine-Westphalia. Areas such as the Lower Rhine lowlands, the Bay of Cologne and the Ruhr area are affected. A distinction is made here between two types of severe weather warnings: advance warnings (in yellow) and acute warnings (in red), whereby the acute warnings indicate the arrival of the natural hazard.

Vigilantes beware! The warning levels range from ORANGE for moderate storms to PURPLE for extreme storms. Here too, information is transmitted around the clock in order to protect the population as best as possible. Use these services to get through the coming days well prepared! The rain is necessary, but on this scale it can also become a real problem. Stay dry and secure your home! Now it's time to keep an umbrella ready and stay flexible.