Record Heat Causes Autobahn Damage Across Germany and Europe

Germany and much of Europe are grappling with an intense heatwave, shattering temperature records. On Saturday, a weather station in Drewitz, Saxony-Anhalt, recorded a scorching 41.5 degrees Celsius (106.7 Fahrenheit) in the late afternoon, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). This surpassed the previous day's high of 41.3 degrees Celsius in Saarbrücken. The extreme temperatures have had a tangible impact on infrastructure, particularly on German autobahns. The federal highway company reported over a dozen instances of road damage, with sections of asphalt buckling due to the expanding concrete. The A2 highway near Burg in Saxony-Anhalt is expected to remain closed until Sunday afternoon in both directions. Similar closures and lane restrictions were reported on other major routes, including the A10 near Berlin and the A93 in Bavaria. The heatwave's effects are not confined to Germany. Denmark registered its highest temperature since 1874, reaching 37 degrees Celsius in Ødum. Switzerland saw a new record of 39 degrees Celsius in Basel. In the Czech Republic, Doksany recorded 40.8 degrees Celsius, with forecasters anticipating even higher temperatures on Sunday. Authorities are urging caution as the heatwave continues, with forecasts indicating that temperatures may rise further in the coming days. The widespread infrastructure damage highlights the vulnerability of transportation networks to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.

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The road surface of some autobahns is arching because the concrete is expanding