Schleswig-Holstein breaks heat record amid Germany-wide heatwave

Schleswig-Holstein has officially broken its all-time temperature record, with the mercury climbing to an unprecedented 39.2 degrees Celsius. The new high was registered at the Grambek weather station in the Herzogtum Lauenburg district, according to preliminary data from the German Weather Service (DWD).

This surpasses the previous record of 39.1 degrees Celsius, also set in Grambek on July 20, 2022. The prior state record stood at 38.0 degrees Celsius from 2019, while the previous June record was 36.3 degrees Celsius, recorded in Pelzerhaken on June 20, 2000.

The new record comes as large parts of Germany have been sweltering under a heatwave for days, with temperatures frequently approaching 40 degrees Celsius. Many areas are experiencing tropical nights, where temperatures do not drop below 20 degrees Celsius overnight.

The DWD attributes the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves to climate change. Data from the DWD and the Federal Environment Agency confirm a clear upward trend in the average number of days exceeding 30 degrees Celsius in Germany, with heatwaves becoming more common and severe globally.