Heatwave in Germany: Up to 41 Degrees in the West, Heat Thunderstorms in the South

The heat stress is also noticeable in the Alpine regions and the Alpine foothills. High temperatures have been recorded in Tyrol and the Innsbruck area; comparable weather patterns had repeatedly led to severe thunderstorms over the Alps in the past.

The current weather situation is embedded in a Europe-wide heatwave with new record values. In Paris, a new June high of 40.9 degrees was measured on Wednesday, as reported by nachrichten.at. This surpassed the previous June record for the French capital.

Particularly extreme was the heat the day before in southwestern France: in the municipality of Pissos in the Landes department, the thermometer rose to 44.3 degrees – the hottest day in France since weather records began nearly 80 years ago.

Record Values in France and Great Britain

Great Britain also recorded a new June record midweek. In Gosport in southern England, the temperature climbed to 36.1 degrees, surpassing the previous benchmark of 35.6 degrees from 1957 and 1976.

In Spain, the highest June temperatures since records began in the 1950s had already been measured on Monday and Tuesday. The heatwave thus extends across several Western European countries.

The German Weather Service recommends during such extreme values to drink sufficient fluids, avoid physical exertion during the midday hours, and keep living spaces as cool as possible. Older people and those with chronic illnesses are also considered particularly at risk.

Recommendations from the Authorities

In several European countries, the highest-level heat warnings have since been issued. Authorities have called on the population to seek out public air-conditioned spaces and to watch for signs of heatstroke.

The persistent heat also raises questions about climate development. Meteorologists point out that such heatwaves have occurred more frequently and with greater intensity in recent years. The extreme values in France, Spain, and Great Britain are well above the previous June records.

With a view to the weekend, only a slow easing is emerging. Some models suggest that the hot air mass will gradually shift eastward, so that at least in western Germany, a slight cooling can be expected.

Overall, however, the situation remains tense: where heat thunderstorms meet dry soils, there is also an increased risk of forest fires, which is why authorities in several German states have raised their warning levels.