Heatwave Grips Germany and Western Europe: 34°C Peak, No May Record Broken Yet
A persistent heatwave has brought scorching temperatures to Germany and Western Europe, with Regensburg hitting 34.0°C on Tuesday. While France and the UK set new May records, Germany's all-time May high of 36.6°C remains untouched.
A significant early-summer heatwave has settled over large parts of Western Europe, pushing temperatures well above 30°C across Germany. The German Weather Service (DWD) reported that the heatwave peaked on Tuesday, with the Bavarian city of Regensburg recording the nation's highest temperature at 34.0°C. Other hotspots included Neunkirchen-Wellesweiler in Saarland at 33.2°C and Ohlsbach in Baden-Württemberg at 33.1°C.
Regional Impact and Nighttime Heat
The heat has been particularly intense in the southwest, where the DWD has issued warnings for high thermal stress in low-lying areas. The urban centers along the Main and Rhine rivers are experiencing tropical nights, with temperatures barely dropping below 20°C. In Baden-Württemberg, the heatwave is expected to persist with only a slight dip in temperatures, remaining around or above the 30°C mark for the coming days.
The high-pressure system is very stable.
A DWD meteorologist indicated that a change in weather is not expected until Sunday, when longer periods of rain could finally bring relief.
National Temperature Breakdown
The heat was not uniform across the country. On Wednesday, northern Germany is forecast to see much cooler temperatures between 18°C and 25°C, while the rest of the country will remain at 27°C to 33°C. The Upper Rhine region, stretching from Bingen to the Swiss border, could still reach up to 30°C on Thursday. Eastern states like Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia experienced highs between 27°C and 30°C over the Pentecost weekend.
- Regensburg (DE)
- 34 °C
- Neunkirchen-Wellesweiler (DE)
- 33.2 °C
- Ohlsbach (DE)
- 33.1 °C
- SW London (UK)
- 35.1 °C
- France (National Avg.)
- 24.8 °C
European Context and Records
The heatwave is a result of a so-called blocking weather pattern, where a high-pressure area remains stationary, creating a "heat dome." While Germany did not break its national May record of 36.6°C set in Hamburg in 1922, neighboring countries did. France's national temperature indicator reached 24.8°C on Tuesday, breaking the record of 24.6°C set just a day earlier. In the UK, the Met Office recorded a new May high of 35.1°C in southwest London, smashing the previous record of 32.8°C from 1922 and 1944.
Forecast and Outlook
A slight moderation is expected mid-week. Thursday will see highs of 23°C to 27°C generally, with up to 30°C possible along the Upper Rhine. Friday will start sunny before cloud cover increases in the evening, with temperatures again reaching 26°C to 33°C. The DWD's forecast suggests the stable high-pressure system will finally give way on Sunday, potentially bringing longer-lasting rain and a more significant cooldown.
