Hessen breaks temperature record as heatwave intensifies

Hessen, Germany, is experiencing an extreme heatwave, shattering its previous temperature record. On Friday, Frankfurt recorded a scorching 40.3 degrees Celsius, surpassing the prior record of 40.2 degrees Celsius set in July 2019. The German Weather Service (DWD) anticipates the intense heat to persist through the weekend, with temperatures potentially climbing to 41 degrees Celsius in the Rhine-Main region and remaining between 37 and 40 degrees Celsius elsewhere in Hessen.

Nighttime offers little respite, with temperatures expected to stay above 19 degrees Celsius in the northern highlands and 25 degrees Celsius in the Rhine-Main area. While Sunday might bring a slight cooling, temperatures will still hover between 35 and 38 degrees Celsius. The DWD has also issued warnings for severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, strong gusts, and hail, particularly in the northwest starting Saturday afternoon.

In response to the dangerous conditions, Hessens's Minister of Transport, Kaweh Mansoori, urged the railway company to consider opening first-class compartments to elderly passengers, pregnant women, and families with children. He emphasized that health is paramount, stating, "Health is more important than the ticket price." The extreme heat has also impacted transportation infrastructure, causing road damage on the A3 near Wiesbaden, necessitating a speed limit of 80 km/h until repairs can be made in cooler temperatures.

Public events are also being affected. The inaugural Hessian Grandparents' Day in Hanau, scheduled for Sunday, has been postponed due to health and safety concerns. Similarly, a public protection day in Bad Nauheim has been canceled. The extreme temperatures have also led to a historically high demand for drinking water in Offenbach.