Germany has recorded its highest temperature since systematic measurements began in the 19th century, with the mercury hitting 41.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday afternoon. The reading was taken at 3:10 p.m. at the Neißemünde-Coschen measuring station in the Oder-Spree district of Brandenburg, according to the German Meteorological Service (DWD).
The previous national record—41.2°C—had been set only the day before in Möckern-Drewitz, Saxony-Anhalt. Meteorologists caution that Sunday's figure could still be revised upward once all stations report final data around 7 p.m.
Overnight Heat and Infrastructure Strain
The night leading into Sunday was also the warmest on record, with 29.4°C measured in Kubschütz, Saxony. Such sustained high temperatures are placing severe stress on both people and infrastructure.
On several motorways, including sections of the A2, the asphalt has burst open under the heat. The A2 near Burg in Saxony-Anhalt, which had been closed due to heat damage, has now reopened, but other stretches in Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt remain closed. Drivers are being advised to avoid the A2. In Leipzig, the asphalt melted directly above tram tracks, causing significant damage to the city's public transport network.
The Berlin Police Deploy Water Cannons to Cool Public as the capital also grapples with the extreme conditions.
Health Concerns and Civic Response
Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa, president of the German Caritas association, has called on churches to keep their doors open to the public as cooling shelters. Many places of worship already offer refuge, but Welskop-Deffaa told Bild that "there should once again be more of them."
The heatwave is not only a German phenomenon. Across Europe, similar records are being shattered. France Records ~1,000 Excess Deaths as the heatwave grips the nation, while Spain Records 327 Heat-Related Deaths in Under a Week. Belgium has also issued a health alert as the heatwave sweeps across the continent.
Forecast: Storms and Relief
The DWD expects the hot weekend to end with storms on Sunday evening. Monday should bring significantly cooler temperatures, with highs between 25 and 29 degrees Celsius in most regions, though up to 32 degrees may still be possible locally in the east and south-east of Germany.
The repeated breaking of national temperature records underscores the accelerating impact of climate change on Europe. As the continent's infrastructure and public health systems are tested, the need for adaptation measures becomes ever more urgent.
