You might not want to pack away your winter coat just yet, because more cold weather - including sleet and thunderstorms - is on its way back to Germany.

Sleet and freezing rain heading to Germany

Just as we were getting used to the idea of spring, it is being snatched away from us again! Despite it being the first weekend of May, the lovely, mild spring weather we've been having will disappear over the next couple of days. In its place, we can expect freezing rain and sleet showers, with temperatures dropping into the single digits.

A strong, icy wind coming from the northwest will bring cold air directly from the Arctic to Germany. At night, many parts of the country could experience frost as temperatures drop an unbelievable six degrees below what is usual for this time of year.

Chilly weather for Germany’s first May weekend

On Thursday, northern Germany will be covered by a thick blanket of clouds, with some patches of rain in Cologne, Düsseldorf and the rest of the west, as temperatures descend from 21 to around 15 degrees. In the northern federal states, it could be as cold as 10 or 14 degrees.

On Friday, we can expect more clouds and repeated rain showers, which may fall as sleet in Hamburg and other areas of northern Germany. The maximum temperature throughout the whole country will only be around nine to 15 degrees.

Towards the weekend, things take a turn for the worse, as heavy rain begins to batter the entire country. There is a high chance of thunderstorms, and the mountainous regions of the south around Munich and Stuttgart can even expect to see some snow.

No end in sight

If you’re looking for some good news, unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a single ray of sunshine on the horizon: “A return to stable, warm and sunny spring weather is currently not in sight,” reported a meteorologist for the Deutsche Wetterdienst (German Weather Service - DWD). On second thoughts, you should probably get your hat and gloves out of storage as well …