Europe is sweltering as Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic break all-time heat records

An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed temperatures to unprecedented levels, with Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic setting new national heat records as forecasters warned that hotter conditions may still be on the way.

Germany recorded its highest temperature on Saturday after provisional figures from the national weather service (DWD) showed the temperature rose to 41.5 degrees Celsius.

The record, measured at the Drewitz weather station in eastern Germany, surpassed the previous national high of 41.3C, recorded a day earlier in Saarbruecken in the southwest, according to a DWD spokesperson.

Denmark also entered record territory as the country with the highest temperature since official measurements began in 1874, recorded on Saturday.

At around 14.00 (12.00 GMT), the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) announced on

The weather agency warned that temperatures were still rising, adding: “the day is not over…”

Just an hour later, the record had been surpassed.

DMI posted: “The record lasted exactly one hour,” before announcing: “Now a temperature of 37.0C has been measured in Odum north of Aarhus. And counting…”

This new temperature surpassed Denmark’s previous temperature record of 36.4 degrees Celsius achieved in August 1975.

Authorities have previously warned that the ongoing heatwave could change the country’s weather history, while television footage showed residents flocking to beaches, harbors and seafronts seeking relief from scorching temperatures.

The extreme heat coincided with the opening of the Roskilde music festival, with one participant recounting the experience of arriving at the campsite.

He said dragging luggage across the festival grounds was “unbearable”.

Also read: Atiku alleges attempts to paralyze opposition, warns against one-party rule

Public broadcaster DR reported that organizers had installed water stations throughout the site to help cool the festival’s estimated 50,000 visitors.

Meteorologist Peter Tanev of TV2 said scientists had anticipated that Denmark would eventually surpass its long-standing temperature record.

“We already recognize that the risks will remain – partly because of global warming,” Tanev said in his comments.

He warned that Saturday’s gains may not last.

“The question now is, how long will this record last. It may only be a matter of time before we reach 40 degrees in Denmark,” wrote Tanev.

Meanwhile, neighboring Sweden also remains under a heat warning, with the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute warning that temperatures in southern Sweden could rise to between 36C and 37C.

The Czech Republic also broke its all-time temperature record on Saturday after a weather station in Doksany, north of Prague, recorded a temperature of 40.6C.

According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI), the new figure surpasses the previous national record of 40.4 degrees Celsius achieved in Dobrichovice in 2012.

As temperatures continue to rise, the agency warned that today’s final figure could be even higher.

It said: “Temperatures are still rising slightly so these may not be final values,” and added that a full summary of the day’s temperatures would be released later.

The country has experienced extremely hot weather for almost two weeks, and forecasters predict the heatwave will intensify on Sunday and temperatures could approach or even exceed 41C.

Saturday also marked the first time temperatures above 40C were recorded in the Czech Republic during June.

The intense heat changed daily life across the country. The streets of southern Prague were largely deserted as residents sought refuge indoors, in swimming pools, in parks or traveling to cooler areas of the countryside.

Authorities also implemented emergency measures to reduce the impact of the heat. Prague’s public transport operator reduced tram speeds to 40 kilometers per hour, and to 10 kilometers per hour under bridges, to reduce the risk of overhead power cables being deformed by extreme temperatures.

Elsewhere, water trucks sprayed streets in some cities and towns to cool urban surfaces and reduce ground-level ozone, while organizers of outdoor festivals and public events installed mist systems to help visitors cope with soaring temperatures.