Berlin and Brandenburg brace for 40°C heatwave as June temperature records face challenge
A blast of extreme heat will grip Berlin and surrounding Brandenburg from Wednesday, with the German Weather Service forecasting highs of up to 40°C on Saturday and tropical nights through the weekend.
The heat builds through the week
Temperatures started climbing on Wednesday, with the German Weather Service (DWD) expecting up to 34°C. Thursday will see 31 to 36°C, and Friday 32 to 37°C, accompanied by abundant sunshine and very light winds. The DWD’s Stefan Rubach said the hottest conditions are due on Saturday, when the mercury could reach 37 to 40°C. Sunday is likely to be only slightly cooler, around two degrees lower, but may also bring increased cloud, showers, and thunderstorms. An alternative scenario keeps the heat pulse in place on Sunday, yielding similar highs to Saturday.
Now it goes a little higher each day over the next few days.
- Wednesday: up to 34°C, sunshine
- Thursday: 31–36°C, light winds
- Friday: 32–37°C, sunshine continues
- Saturday: peak at 37–40°C, possibly record-threatening
- Sunday: about 2°C lower, chance of storms; or equally hot
Tropical nights offer little relief
Overnight lows will largely stay above 20°C, satisfying the definition of a tropical night. The DWD predicts lows of 20 to 23°C for the night to Sunday. Rubach remarked that cooling through ventilation will be largely ineffective, making the nights "very uncomfortable." The long daylight period also delays the evening cooldown: peak temperatures will occur between 5 and 6 p.m., and dropping below 30°C will take well into the night.
Everything that doesn't have lows below 20 degrees — that will be very unpleasant.
June records under threat
The region’s all-time June temperature records are within reach. The highest June value recorded in Berlin was 38.6°C at Tegel on 30 June 2019, while the Brandenburg mark stands at 39.2°C in Cottbus on 19 June 2022. Rubach noted that temperatures this weekend will be “in that kind of magnitude” and described them as “unusually hot for June.” Although heatwaves of this intensity are more typical in July or August, their early appearance has become more frequent in recent years.
Health risks and UV danger
Extreme heat poses the greatest risk to the elderly and to people with circulatory conditions. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection expects a UV index of 7 to 8 for the region, rated high to very high. The advice is to stay in the shade during the middle of the day, wear protective clothing, a hat, sunglasses, and apply sunscreen.
