BERLIN — Germans steeled themselves for sweltering conditions Saturday as a punishing heatwave, already linked to dozens of deaths across Western Europe, advanced eastward after toppling temperature records well above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Britain, France, Switzerland and Germany have all notched all-time June highs in recent days, and the weather system threatens to break more records as it sweeps from Germany toward Poland. On Friday, a preliminary new German national record of 41.3 C was recorded near the city of Saarbruecken, close to the border, a spokesperson for the country’s National Meteorological Service.
Extreme Warnings and Pleas to Conserve Water
Germany’s weather service issued extreme heat warnings for nearly the entire country on Saturday, while authorities urged citizens to use water sparingly. In France, the heatwave has claimed dozens of lives among both young and old. Temperatures surpassing 40 C have disrupted rail travel and power generation, triggered alcohol bans, forced school closures and postponed outdoor events.
“The heatwave is going to peak at the weekend, well over 40 degrees in parts of Germany,” Karsten Brandt, a meteorologist at forecasting site Donnerwetter.de.
The Ironman European Championship long-distance triathlon in Frankfurt on Sunday shortened its cycling and running courses in response to the extreme conditions, organizers announced. With infrastructure under strain — including buckling roads and expanding train tracks — major public service providers moved to reduce traffic.
Rail Operators Waive Fees, Suspend Services
German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn is allowing passengers to cancel long-distance travel bookings into early next week without charge due to the heatwave. The company said its infrastructure faces acute stress from sun exposure and added risks to signals, tracks and overhead wires from thunderstorms and wildfires.
Another operator, National Express, said it would suspend trains on its Rhine-Ruhr-Express line in North Rhine-Westphalia — Germany’s most populous state — on Saturday afternoon as a precaution against unplanned service halts.
Andre Berghegger, chief executive of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, appealed to the public to ration water consumption. Much of Northern Europe’s housing stock is designed to retain heat rather than repel it, intensifying the discomfort and health risks.
Climate Link and Eastward Shift
The World Meteorological Organization said the heatwave will begin shifting by the end of the month, targeting Central Europe and the Balkans. Scientists emphasized that the searing temperatures would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change, which has turned this week’s extreme weather into a deadly reality.
