A heatwave has gripped large parts of western Europe. Although Germany has not seen a record high for the month of May, temperatures are well into the 30s.
People in Germany have experienced a blast of heat this week, with temperatures rising well above 30C in some places.
According to preliminary figures from the German Weather Service (DWD), the Bavarian city of Regensburg, located on the Danube river, was the hottest place in Germany on Tuesday, with the mercury reaching 34C.
People in Saarland also saw sweltering conditions. At the Neunkirchen-Wellesweiler station, the thermometer read 33.2C.
In Ohlsbach, Baden-Württemberg, temperatures reached 33.1C, while Berlin saw highs of 30C.
Meteorologists at DWD said temperatures barely dropped below 20C at night, especially in city areas in the southwest along the Main and Rhine rivers.
However, unlike in the UK and France, a temperature record for May has not been set in Germany so far.
A May heat record was last seen in 1922 when Hamburg logged a searingly hot 36.6C.
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What are the consequences of the heat?
It’s been a mild and wet spring so far, so many people have enjoyed getting out and about in Germany in the last few days, with lakes attracting lots of visitors.
However, rising temperatures and warm nights can result in discomfort. Germany’s Federal Institute of Public Health recommends drinking plenty of fluids – ideally about two to three litres spread throughout the day.
People cool down on a hot day in Berlin this week. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jens Kalaene
Experts also urge people to put on headwear when out in the sun and apply sunscreen. It’s recommended that physical activities be scheduled for when it’s cooler in the morning or evening.
Another issue is the risk of wildfires, particularly in the south of Germany.
The DWD on Tuesday rated the risk of wildfires in Bavaria at Level 4 on its five-tier scale.
According to forecasts, the highest warning – Level 5 – is likely to be declared in and around Nuremberg, as well as in Regensburg and Aldersbach.
According to the DWD, the high risk of fires persists throughout the week due to the warm and dry conditions.
READ ALSO: Record EU wildfires ‘burnt more than 1 million hectares in 2025’
Will the heat spell ease off?
On Wednesday the heat eased off in the north, while temperatures dropped very slightly in the south.
Highs on Wednesday range from 18 to 25C in the north, and from 27 to 33C elsewhere. In Nuremberg and Frankfurt, highs of 30C were predicted.
On Thursday, temperatures are expected to reach between 23 to 27C across Germany. Along the Upper Rhine, which stretches from Bingen in Rhineland-Palatinate to the Swiss border, temperatures could climb to 30C.
Over the weekend, the heat is expected to break with some showers and storms forecast.
It comes after the UK and France reported the highest May temperatures on record.
In France, the nationwide temperature indicator – the average temperature for the entire country – reached 24.8C on Tuesday, according to the national weather service.
In several regions, temperatures have reached nearly 36C.
In the UK, a new May heat record was set on Tuesday, the Met Office reported. A high of 35.1C was recorded in southwest London.
READ ALSO: Why Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thelocal.de
