Hessen braces for another heatwave as temperatures climb to 35°C and health services activate cooling measures
After a brief cooler spell, Hessen is facing a renewed heatwave with the German Weather Service forecasting 33°C today and 35°C on Saturday. Authorities have activated hotlines, cooling rooms, and outreach to vulnerable groups.
Heat returns to Hessen
Temperatures in Hessen are set to rise sharply again after a short period of cooler weather. The German Weather Service (DWD) expects highs of 33°C in the south of the state today, 10 July, and 35°C on Saturday, 11 July. The heat follows an earlier hot spell that, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), may have caused an estimated 600 heat-related deaths in Hessen by the end of June, a rate of 9.5 per 100,000 residents.
- 2026-07-10
- 33 °C
- 2026-07-11
- 35 °C
Health risks and warnings
AOK physician Christoph Stein cautioned that many people underestimate the danger. "Heat is not just a comfort issue; it can become medically relevant, especially at night, with fluid deficiency, and over several days," he said. Warning signs include unusual tiredness, headaches, dizziness, muscle cramps, dry mouth, and dark urine. "Many people only think of danger when circulatory collapse or heat stroke occurs. By then it is already very critical," Stein added.
Heat is not just a comfort issue; it can become medically relevant, especially at night, with fluid deficiency, and over several days.
Assistance hotlines and outreach
Public health insurers and municipalities have set up support systems. The AOK, Hessen's largest statutory health insurer, operates a medical hotline (0800/1265265) where a team of doctors answers policyholders' questions about heat. The insurer also uses its website and social media on hot days to alert people to underestimated health risks, and it targets vulnerable groups such as the chronically ill with tailored advice.
Several districts run dedicated heat telephones. In the Main-Kinzig district, staff contact registered participants when the DWD issues an official heat warning, offering tips on coping with high temperatures. If health problems are apparent, relatives or the person's GP can be informed with consent. The city of Offenbach launched a similar service during the late June heatwave, with four volunteer senior citizens' councillors advising registered residents.
Cooling spaces and outreach to homeless people
Wiesbaden opens Room 22 in the town hall on days when temperatures are forecast to reach at least 30°C. The air-conditioned space provides seating and drinking water. A heat bus for homeless people is also mentioned among the measures available across Hessen.
