Germany Expects this Summer’s Third Heat Wave

For Wednesday, the German Weather Service has issued a severe weather warning. Scorching heat is supposed to affect almost the entire country yet again.

Berlin, August 2nd, 2022 (The Berlin Spectator) — In Germany, there have been two heat waves this summer, so far. The third one will hit as soon as tomorrow, on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022. According to the German Weather Service, it will bring extremely temperatures to the entire country of Germany, with the exception of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, the northern part of Lower Saxony and southern Bavaria. An excessive heat warning is in place for Wednesday.

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Dangerous Weather

The fact that Hamburg and Munich are excluded this time does not mean it will not be hot in those two cities. Forecasters predict 30 to 32 degrees Centigrade (86 bis 90 degrees Fahrenheit) there. In western, central, eastern and northeastern Germany, those temperature levels will be exceeded, probably thanks to the global warming effect. In many German summers, no official heat waves are registered. This time, there are three. And there might be a fourth one. Who knows?

According to meteorologists, Berlin and Brandenburg can expect 34 degrees C (93 degrees F) on Wednesday, and even 37 degrees C (99 degrees F) on Thursday, meaning the weather will be dangerous yet again. In and around Stuttgart, things will look and feel similar. The same applies to Cologne, where the maximum temperatures might be one to two degrees lower.

Dehydration and Fires

Even more heat can and should be expected in Frankfurt am Main, where the thermometer will likely show 35 to 35 degrees C (95 to 100 degrees F) on Wednesday and Thursday. Here and in most other parts of Germany people should make sure they drink a lot of water. Dehydration is dangerous, especially to elderly people and small children. Too much physical activity in the heat is not recommended.

There is another danger: This summer, numerous forest fires have been reported, including in Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Brandenburg and Saxony. In some cases, it took a week to extinguish the flames since the heat and strong winds fueled the fires. Hundreds of fire fighters were active 24/7 for days in a row. Heliocopters were used to bring those fires under control.

Water Cannons

Even Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, were involved in the efforts. So was the Federal Police. Its water cannons were built for violent demonstrations and riot situations, but they were used in the fight against the flames in several forests in Brandenburg and Saxony this summer.

SummerWeather