Germany prepares for 40C-plus heat as European hot spell shifts east

Germany is bracing for temperatures above 40C as a deadly heatwave that hit Western Europe moves east into Germany and Poland, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported. The heat has already been linked to dozens of deaths and has disrupted rail travel, power generation and outdoor events across the region.

A spokesperson for Germany’s National Meteorological Service said the country recorded a preliminary national high of 41C near Saarbrucken on Friday. The reading, if confirmed, would mark a new German temperature record.

The United Kingdom, France and Switzerland have all registered record June temperatures during the same hot spell, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. France has reported the heaviest death toll, with fatalities among both younger and older people.

Heat expected to peak over the weekend

Karsten Brandt, a meteorologist at the forecasting site Donnerwetter.de, said the heatwave was expected to reach its peak over the weekend, with some parts of Germany forecast to climb well above 40C.

Organisers of the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt said they shortened the cycling and running sections of Sunday’s long-distance triathlon because of the heat. The change came as public service providers sought to reduce strain on transport and other infrastructure.

Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national rail operator, said passengers may cancel long-distance bookings without charge until early next week because of the heatwave. The company said sun exposure was putting particular pressure on infrastructure, while thunderstorms and wildfires increased risks to signals, tracks and overhead wires.

Roads and rail systems are vulnerable in extreme heat, with risks including buckling pavement and swollen tracks, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported. Parts of Germany, especially in the southwest, have already had a much hotter June than usual.

The most intense heat is expected to ease during the weekend, with heavy thunderstorms forecast on Sunday, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. The World Meteorological Organization said the heatwave is expected to shift by the end of the month toward Central Europe and the Balkans.

Blocked weather pattern traps hot air

The Reuters Climate Monitor said temperatures during the heatwave have reached as much as 18C above seasonal averages. It said the heat is being driven by an Omega block, a weather pattern that holds a dome of hot air over an area while cooler air sits around its edges.

Across Europe, cultural landmarks have closed, farms have suffered and some hospitals have struggled to cope, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported. Demand for electric fans has risen, and Asian air-conditioning manufacturers have reported stronger European sales.

Northern Europe’s housing has added to the strain because much of it is built to retain warmth rather than shed heat, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. Scientists said the current heatwave would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change, which has made this week’s nighttime temperatures 100 times more likely than they would have been two decades ago.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.