Germany Logs 41.7C Heat Record for Third Straight Day as Storm Fronts Promise Relief
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · Jun 28
Germany Logs 41.7C Heat Record for Third Straight Day as Storm Fronts Promise Relief
3 articles · Updated · DW (English) · Jun 28
Summary
A provisional 41.7C reading in Coschen, Brandenburg, gave Germany a new national heat record on Sunday, after records of 41.3C on Friday and 41.5C on Saturday.
The DWD said the heatwave's center has shifted east into states including Brandenburg and Saxony, with extreme heat warnings still covering most of the country despite cooler air expected from the west and southwest by evening.
Kubschütz in Saxony also set a national record for the highest overnight low at 29.4C, underscoring the strain from hot, humid nights as well as daytime peaks.
The heat is already disrupting daily life: Leipzig halted trams over track damage, several forest fires threatened munitions-laden areas, and at least seven people died in weekend swimming accidents.
As German heatwaves turn air toxic, are its public health strategies prepared for this new deadly threat?
With its railways failing under heat, can Germany's massive investment plan outpace the escalating climate crisis?
2026 Heatwave Devastates Germany and Europe: Record Temperatures, Deadly Consequences, and the Climate Change Connection
Overview
The June 2026 heatwave gripped Germany and much of Europe, marking an alarming shift in climate patterns. Once-in-a-generation heatwaves are now happening almost every year, with Europe warming at twice the global average. This trend of increasingly intense heat, including unusually warm Mays and frequent June heatwaves, has led to persistent high temperatures, even at night. The immediate impacts have been severe, with dozens of drowning deaths as people sought relief in rivers and lakes. These events highlight how extreme heat is becoming the new normal, straining public health and daily life across the continent.