Germany registers absolute temperature record of 41.3°C amid European heatwave

Germany has officially registered its highest temperature ever recorded, reaching 41.3 degrees Celsius (106.3 degrees Fahrenheit) in a suburb of Saarbrücken. Preliminary data from the German Meteorological Service (DWD) confirmed the record, which narrowly beats the previous high of 41.2 degrees Celsius set in July 2019.

Meteorologist Uwe Baumgarten indicated that this extreme temperature might be reached again or even slightly surpassed in the coming days. This reading marks the first time such a temperature has been documented in Germany since meteorological records began. The DWD highlighted the significance of this event on social media platform Bluesky.

The current heatwave gripping Europe has significantly impacted Germany for several days, with temperatures peaking since Thursday and expected to continue until Sunday. The extreme heat has prompted the cancellation of sporting and cultural events and poses a threat of disruptions to the railway network. Additionally, the DWD warned of a sharply increasing risk of forest fires, with the highest alert level reached in parts of eastern Germany.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom also experienced record-breaking heat for June, with Wattisham in Suffolk registering 36.9 degrees Celsius on the same Friday.