Spring will make a brief appearance in Germany this week - and right on time, as yesterday marked the astronomical start of spring. After last week’s grim weather, with reports of storms, flooding and even tornadoes in some parts of the country, the predictions of brighter days and warmer temperatures this week could not be more welcome.

But don’t put away those winter coats just yet - unfortunately, the spring weather isn’t going to stick around for long.     

Up to 20 degrees in western Germany

According to the Weather Channel, all regions of Germany will experience a welcome respite from the storms, with warm, sunny days expected for the rest of the week. Friday, March 22, looks set to be the warmest day we’ve had so far, with bright sunshine and temperatures of up to 20 degrees possible in western Germany.

Elsewhere in the country will experience highs of around 17 degrees, but this will drop significantly at night - and cause frost in many places - due to the cloudless skies.

Cooler weather at the weekend

Before you get your sunglasses and barbecues out, it looks like things are going to cool off somewhat towards the weekend. From Saturday, March 23, a cold front will blow in from the north, bringing with it dense clouds and the possibility of rain showers.

The heat will last a bit longer in the south of Germany, where you can expect temperatures between 17 and 21 degrees on Saturday, with long sunny spells. However, by Sunday, March 24, the whole country can expect to be covered by a blanket of grey skies.

Rising temperatures in Germany

Although we might despair at the friendly spring weather being so short-lived, it is worth remembering that such warm temperatures are higher than we would usually expect at this time of year.

In fact, the temperature in Germany during March only rarely rises above 10 degrees. The average temperature for this period, towards the end of the month, is 8 degrees in Berlin, 11 degrees in Cologne, 7 degrees in Hamburg and 9 degrees in Munich.