A heatwave sweeping across Europe reached its peak in Germany on Thursday, June 25, 2026, prompting the cancellation of several open-air events as temperatures were forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius through the weekend. Large parts of the country are already experiencing severe to extreme heat stress, with the German Weather Service (DWD) reporting temperatures soaring to around 37C.
Deutsche Bahn Warns Travelers, Refunds Tickets
In an unprecedented move, rail operator Deutsche Bahn advised customers to avoid travel and announced that all tickets booked up to June 30 would be refunded due to a high risk of disruptions from wildfires, heavy summer rain, and thunderstorms. This step underscores the severity of the heatwave and its potential impact on infrastructure.
Sports Events Canceled Amid Safety Concerns
Several outdoor sports events have been called off, including a half-marathon in Hamburg, where authorities cited the risk of an increased demand for emergency and rescue services. The decision reflects growing concerns about the safety of participants and spectators under extreme heat conditions.
Temperatures are expected to rise further starting Friday, with almost the entire country forecast to bake under temperatures between 35 and 41C on Saturday. Experts suggest that the current German record for June of 39.6C, recorded in 2019 in Saxony-Anhalt state, could easily be broken over the weekend. Germany's overall temperature record stands at 41.2C, set on July 25, 2019.
Germany Ill-Prepared for Heat-Related Disasters
Martin Herrmann, head of the German Climate and Health Alliance, told AFP that Germany is not prepared to cope well with extreme heat. Although public awareness of the dangers of heat has clearly increased, Germany is still poorly prepared, or not prepared at all, for a heat-related disaster, he said. Herrmann called for heat protection to be more firmly embedded in disaster and crisis management, like flood protection.
Fatal Swimming Accidents and Fire Risk Rise
Hot weather over the past week has already led to a spike in fatal swimming accidents. Two men aged 20 and 22 drowned in lakes in Bavaria, and a 79-year-old woman died in the Baltic Sea. Other fatal swimming accidents occurred in lakes in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. An investigation has also been launched after three teenagers died after swimming in a canal in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The risk of forest fires is also rising sharply, according to the DWD, with the highest alert level already reached in parts of eastern Germany. Meanwhile, the Protestant Church has launched an initiative encouraging people to seek shelter in cool church buildings.
