Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic recorded their highest-ever temperatures on Saturday as an intense heatwave continued to grip Europe, with meteorological agencies warning that temperatures could rise even further.
Germany recorded a provisional all-time high of 41.5 degrees Celsius, according to the national weather service (DWD).
The temperature was measured at the Drewitz weather station in eastern Germany, surpassing the previous record of 41.3C, which had been set just a day earlier in Saarbruecken in the southwest, a DWD spokesperson told AFP.
Denmark records hottest day on record
Denmark also registered its highest temperature since records began in 1874.
The Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) initially announced that 36.6C had been recorded north of Odense at about 2:00 pm local time, describing it as the country’s warmest day on record.
“With 36.6C north of Odense, we have the warmest day ever since measurements began in 1874,” DMI wrote on X, adding, “The day isn’t over yet…”
Just an hour later, the record was broken again.
“The record lasted exactly one hour,” DMI said, announcing that 37.0C had been measured in Odum, north of Aarhus.
The new figure surpassed the previous national record of 36.4C, set in August 1975.
DMI had earlier warned that the heatwave sweeping across Scandinavia could push temperatures to unprecedented levels.
The soaring temperatures coincided with the opening of the Roskilde music festival, where organisers installed additional water stations for about 50,000 attendees.
Meteorologist Peter Tanev told broadcaster TV2 that scientists had long anticipated new heat records because of global warming.
“The question right now is how long this record will stand. It’s probably only a matter of time before we reach 40 degrees in Denmark,” he said.
Neighbouring Sweden also remained under heat warnings, with the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute forecasting temperatures of up to 37C in parts of the south.
Czech Republic also breaks record
The Czech Republic also set a new national temperature record on Saturday, with 40.6C recorded at a weather station in Doksany, north of Prague.
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) said the reading eclipsed the previous record of 40.4C, set in 2012 in Dobřichovice, southwest of Prague.
“Temperatures are still rising slightly, so this may not be the final value,” CHMI said on X.
The agency added that it was the first time temperatures above 40C had been recorded in June and warned that the heatwave was expected to peak on Sunday, with temperatures potentially exceeding 41C.
The extreme heat emptied parts of Prague as residents sought refuge indoors, at swimming pools, parks and air-conditioned spaces.
Authorities also introduced emergency measures to cope with the scorching conditions. Prague’s public transport operator reduced tram speeds to protect overhead power lines from warping, while water trucks sprayed streets across the country to cool urban areas and reduce ground-level ozone concentrations.
Several festivals and public events also installed misting systems to help attendees cope with the sweltering temperatures.
AFP
