Berlin, June 28th, 2026 (The Berlin Spectator) – Germany is experiencing an exceptional heat wave, with temperatures reaching record levels across the country and creating major problems for infrastructure, public safety and daily life. In Berlin and Brandenburg, the heat reached unprecedented levels on Saturday, with Brandenburg officially crossing the 40-degree Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) mark for the first time in recorded measurements.
The German Weather Service (DWD) registered 40.8 degrees Celsius (105 degress Fahrenheit) at its weather station in Baruth/Mark in Brandenburg. In Berlin-Tempelhof, meteorologists measured 39.9 degrees C (104 degreen F). Both figures surpassed previous regional records: Brandenburg’s former record stood at 39.2 degrees C (102 degrees F), measured in Cottbus in June 2022, while Berlin’s previous high was almost the same 38.9 degrees, recorded in Köpenick in August 2015.
Other locations in the region also reported new highs. Temperatures reached 40.4 degrees C in Potsdam and 40.1 degrees C (104 degrees F) in Lenzen near the Elbe River. Private weather stations recorded even higher readings, including 40.2 degrees in Berlin-Eiskeller and exactly 40 degrees in Altdöbern, although such measurements are not used for official records because the stations do not yet have the required long-term data.
Heat Damages the Autobahn
The extreme temperatures caused visible damage to transportation infrastructure. Parts of several German freeways were affected as asphalt suffered under the heat. The Autobahn A2 was closed in sections, including between Ziesar and Wollin in Brandenburg in the direction of Potsdam. Another damaged section was reported near Irxleben in Saxony-Anhalt, affecting traffic toward Berlin.
The A10 Berlin ring road was also affected: One lane between Berlin-Marzahn and Hellersdorf in the direction of Frankfurt (Oder) remained closed because of heat-related damage. Additional restrictions were reported on motorways in Bavaria and Hamburg.
The heat was followed by severe weather warnings in Berlin and Brandenburg late Saturday. The DWD warned of powerful thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail and storm gusts. Wind speeds of up to around 95 to 100 kilometers per hour were reported in some areas, along with heavy rainfall.
The warnings initially affected parts of western and northern Brandenburg before being expanded to western districts of Berlin and surrounding areas. By midnight, the weather service lifted the warnings after the storms moved southward.
Wildfire Breaks Out
The combination of extreme heat and dry conditions also increased the risk of fires. A wildfire broke out in the Gohrischheide area on the border between Saxony and Brandenburg, near the Elbe-Elster region. The fire spread quickly, growing to more than 19 hectares.
Firefighters faced additional difficulties because the affected area is contaminated with unexploded ammunition from earlier military use. The same region was hit by a major wildfire in summer 2025, when emergency crews needed about two weeks to bring the situation under control.
The heat also affected public health. In Berlin, two people died in swimming accidents during the hot spell. Across Germany, emergency services reported increasing numbers of heat-related incidents. In Cologne, several residents of top-floor apartments reportedly collapsed because of extreme indoor temperatures and were taken to hospitals.
Temperatures Among the Highest Ever
The heat wave affected large parts of Germany. On Saturday, the DWD reported preliminary readings above 41 degrees C (106 degrees F) in several locations. A weather station in Drewitz, Saxony-Anhalt, recorded 41.5 degrees C (106.7 degrees F), while Saarbrücken-Burbach reached 41.4 degrees, according to preliminary data.
The previous nationwide record had been measured on Friday in Saarbrücken, where temperatures reached 41.3 degrees. The DWD said the new measurements still needed to be reviewed before official confirmation. Meteorologists described the current air mass as extraordinarily warm.
Forecasters expected the focus of the heat wave to shift further east, with temperatures of up to 42 degrees C (107.6 degrees F) possible in parts of eastern Germany, including the Lausitz region.
