Heatwave pushes forest fire danger to highest level across eastern Germany, aerial patrols ordered in Bavaria
The German Weather Service warns of high to very high forest fire risk across Bavaria, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, with temperatures forecast to reach 38°C on Thursday and aerial observation flights deployed in Bavaria.
Danger levels climbing
Forest fire danger is rising sharply across eastern and southern Germany as a new heatwave brings dry conditions and temperatures forecast to reach 38°C. The German Weather Service (DWD) has issued warnings for multiple states, with the highest danger level appearing at several monitoring stations. In Bavaria, more than ten stations show the highest danger level for Thursday, prompting authorities in Lower Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate to order aerial observation flights.
In Thuringia, the station at Bad Lobenstein in the Saale-Orla district is expected to reach the highest forest fire danger level on Thursday. Across the state, only four of 28 stations will remain at level three, with the rest at level four. Saxony-Anhalt faces a similar escalation: on Wednesday about one-third of stations reached the second-highest level, but by Thursday only six of 23 stations will stay at level three, with the remainder climbing to level four.
Aerial surveillance in Bavaria
Bavarian authorities are taking preventive action. The government of Lower Bavaria has ordered aerial observation flights from Wednesday through Friday, while the Upper Palatinate will continue flights through Monday. The DWD data shows medium to high forest fire risk persisting in the Free State on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, with Thursday marking the peak danger.
Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt under pressure
In Saxony, three weather stations in the north of the state reached the second-highest danger level on Wednesday. By Thursday, more than half of the state's 27 stations are forecast to hit level four, with the remainder at level three. The stations at Klitzschen near Torgau, Leipzig/Halle Airport, and Oschatz are among those at elevated risk. Saxony-Anhalt will see nearly blanket level-four danger on Thursday, with only a handful of stations remaining at level three.
Temperature and dry spell
The DWD forecasts dry conditions across the affected regions for both Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures on Wednesday are expected to reach 33°C in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, and 34°C in Thuringia. Thursday will intensify further, with Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt seeing up to 38°C and Thuringia up to 37°C. The DWD describes the situation as a growing heat burden.
- Wednesday: Danger level four reached at one-third of Saxony-Anhalt stations and half of Thuringia stations; Bavaria orders aerial observation flights.
- Thursday: Peak danger — highest level at 10+ Bavaria stations and Bad Lobenstein (Thuringia); level four across majority of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia; temperatures up to 38°C.
- Friday: Medium to high risk persists in Bavaria; Lower Bavaria aerial flights continue.
- Saturday: Medium to high risk continues in Bavaria; Upper Palatinate flights extended through Monday.
Regional response
No major fires have been reported as of Wednesday morning, but the combination of prolonged dryness and extreme heat has put emergency services on alert. The forest fire danger index, calculated by the DWD, uses a five-level scale. Level five, the highest, indicates very high risk where even small ignition sources can trigger rapidly spreading fires. The deployment of aerial observers in Bavaria reflects a standard protocol to detect fires early in remote forested areas before ground crews can reach them.
