Germany has set a new all-time temperature record since weather observations began. This was reported by the DPA agency, citing preliminary data from the German Meteorological Service (DWD). On Saturday, the thermometer rose to 41.5 degrees Celsius.
The peak value was recorded at 4:20 PM in Möckern-Drewitz, located in the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt. The previous record stood at 41.3 degrees, set on Friday in Saarbrücken-Burbach. On Saturday, the same weather station registered 41.4 degrees. Before the current heatwave, Germany’s absolute maximum temperature of 41.2 degrees had held since July 25, 2019.
Additionally, a monthly record for Germany was broken in June: the previous record was 39.6 degrees, recorded on June 30, 2019, in Bernburg. On June 25 and 26, the record for the warmest night was matched in Bad Bergzabern, where temperatures did not drop below 26.2 degrees.
Due to the extreme heat, the railway company Deutsche Bahn advised passengers to avoid non-essential trips over the weekend. Several highways implemented closures and speed restrictions, as road surfaces were buckling from concrete expansion. Extreme heatwaves in Germany are becoming more frequent due to the climate crisis. A slight easing of the heat is expected only on Monday.
Earlier in Berlin, police used water cannons to cool down pedestrians during the abnormal heat. Vehicles sprayed water near the Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz, and other busy areas in the city center. By midday, police had used about 9,000 liters of water before sending the equipment for refueling. Due to the heat, open-air swimming pools were overcrowded, and the burden on emergency services increased, with paramedics responding more frequently to people experiencing circulation issues and heart attacks. Asphalt melted on roads, and drivers were advised to carry extra water and medication.
In June 2026, Europe was hit by an abnormal heatwave, recognized as the most severe in the history of weather observations. This wave of extreme heat, caused by a “heat dome,” led to the breaking of national temperature records across the continent: in Germany, temperatures reached 41.5°C; in the Czech Republic, 40.6°C; in Denmark, 37°C; and records were also shattered in the United Kingdom, France, and Switzerland. Hundreds of millions of people suffered from the heat, with temperatures in several countries exceeding seasonal norms by 5 to 12 degrees. These extreme weather conditions caused widespread consequences: overburdened healthcare systems, closure of thousands of schools, cancellation of mass events, disruptions in transportation and energy supply, and numerous fatalities. Scientists link this unprecedented event to climate change, emphasizing that such heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent.
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