DWD issues extreme heat warning as Germany braces for 41C

The German Weather Service (DWD) has issued an extreme heat warning for parts of the country. Temperatures are expected to reach 41 degrees celsius on June 27.

Extreme heat expected in western Germany

We’re all sweating, melting, fanning and bathing, and it's only set to get hotter. With a heatwave crossing Europe, the DWD has issued an extreme heat warning for much of western Germany on June 24.

As of 11.20am, the extreme heat warning applies to the northwestern parts of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. A further heat warning applies to much of the rest of the country, including Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, Berlin, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Hamburg.

Northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are the only parts of the country where an extreme heat warning or heat warning is not in place today. 

To keep cool during heatwaves, the German government recommends 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 when outside.

41C forecast for Hesse on Friday

As the weekend approaches, temperatures are expected to rise. On Thursday, the coolest spot in the country will be Rostock, where it will be a pleasant 24 degrees. Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden will see 35 degrees. Across the southwestern parts of the country, temperatures will be between 36 and 39 degrees.

On Friday, cities across the country will see temperatures between 30 and 39 degrees. In only one city, Frankfurt, temperatures are expected to break the 40-degree mark on Friday afternoon. 

The blistering heat will continue into the weekend, when all cities will see temperatures over 33 degrees. Again, Frankfurt will see the hottest weather, with temperatures forecast to hit 41 degrees on Saturday afternoon. 

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, in 2024 there were 12,5 Hitzetage in Germany, but fewer in 2025, at 11,1 days. Climate scientists expect the frequency of heat days to increase over the coming years, unless effective efforts are made to drastically reduce global CO2 emissions.