Berlin: Europe experienced another day of record-breaking temperatures on Saturday, with Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic all registering new all-time heat records as an intense early summer heatwave spread across the continent.
Germany recorded a provisional national high of 41.5°C in Möckern-Drewitz, surpassing the previous day’s record of 41.3°C. The Czech Republic also reached a record 40.8°C in Doksany, while Denmark recorded 37°C in Odum, exceeding its previous highest temperature of 36.4°C set in 1976.
Meanwhile, Switzerland registered its hottest June day for the third consecutive day, with temperatures climbing to 39°C in Basel.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), around 150 million people across Europe are experiencing temperatures above 35°C, with the heatwave posing serious risks to public health, infrastructure and ecosystems.
The prolonged heat has already been linked to hundreds of deaths across Europe. In France, officials reported around 1,000 additional deaths during the heatwave, while drowning fatalities have risen as more people seek relief in rivers, lakes and beaches. Spain has also reported hundreds of heat-related deaths in recent days.
Meteorologists say the extreme temperatures are being driven by a persistent “heat dome”—a high-pressure system that traps hot air and allows temperatures to build day after day under clear skies.
Scientists from World Weather Attribution said a heatwave of this intensity so early in summer would have been virtually impossible decades ago, pointing to climate change as the primary cause.
Forecasters expect the extreme heat to continue into Monday before cooler conditions gradually move eastward later in the week.
