Germany likely to see 40C-heatwave in early August

After a cooler few weeks, meteorologists expect a new heatwave to hit Germany in late July and the early weeks of August. Here’s what kind of temperatures we should prepare for:

Another 40C-heatwave heading for Germany

According to forecasts, another heatwave is heading for Germany. “We are coming out of a rather cool phase,” meteorologist Rainer Buchhop told RTL. As is often the case, residents in southwestern parts of the country will be the first to feel temperatures rise. 

The transition from July to August will bring temperatures over 35 degrees celsius and edging close to 40 degrees. And there will be more “tropical nights”, with nighttime temperatures between 23 and 27 degrees expected in the southwest.

Between August 8 and 14, temperatures will heat up in surrounding cities and further north. “Cologne will even reach temperatures over 40 degrees celsius, while Berlin and Munich will see close to 40 degrees,” Buchhop explained.

Southern parts of Europe have recorded what climate scientists have been calling “hellish” temperatures in the past few days. Temperatures reached 47 degrees in Sardinia on Sunday. This is slightly below the all-time record temperature recorded in Europe, when highs of 48,8 degrees were recorded in Sicily in 2021.

Germany only just getting to grips with last heatwave

The forecast comes just weeks after Germany broke its all-time heat record, when Möckern-Drewitz in Saxony-Anhalt recorded highs of 41,8 degrees. The late-June heatwave is thought to have caused 5.700 excess deaths in Germany, and a total of 12.000 excess deaths across Europe.

The heatwave also led to a water shortage, which some regions are still experiencing. On July 14, authorities in Munich issued a ban on non-essential drinking water use, residents who break the ban face fines of up to 50.000 euros. The ban will be lifted on August 1, but may be extended if dry weather persists.