36C heatwave forecast for this weekend in Germany

The German Weather Service (DWD) has forecast highs of 36 degrees celsius for parts of Germany this weekend. Temperatures of at least 31 degrees are forecast across the whole country.

Germany braces for first summer heatwave

It’s going to be hot in Germany this weekend. On Saturday, temperatures are expected to reach 33 degrees in Cologne and 32 degrees in Frankfurt. Stuttgart, Konstanz, Berlin and Hamburg will be a more manageable 29 degrees, while the northern coastline and Rostock will see a pleasant 24 degrees.

The weather will get more sweaty on Sunday. Highs of 36 degrees are expected in Frankfurt, 35 in Cologne and Berlin, 34 in Bremen, Hamburg, Hanover and Stuttgart. Rostock will also heat up to 31 degrees. Across the country, no major city will see temperatures below 30 degrees.

Rain in the north and intermittent sunshine in the south will bring slight relief on Monday, but highs of 27 degrees will prevail in much of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Aside from in mountainous areas, Hamburg and Bremen will see the coolest weather, rain and highs of 21 degrees.

What precautions should you take in the hot weather?

As heatwaves become more common, the German government is issuing detailed advice about how to stay safe in very hot weather.

Health authorities recommend drinking between two and three litres of water throughout the day, rescheduling intensive activities for cooler times of day and wearing a head covering and high-factor sun cream to protect your skin while outside.

In recent years, heat days (Hitzetage), days where the temperature reaches or exceeds 30 degrees, have occurred earlier in the summer and more regularly across Germany and Europe, making the consequences of climate change more recognisable in daily life. 

According to the DWD, there were 12,5 Hitzetage in Germany in 2024. Climate scientists expect the regularity of heat days to increase over the coming years, unless effective efforts are made to drastically reduce CO2 emissions globally.