Germany has experienced its all-time temperature record broken for the second day in a row as Europe’s heatwave continues. The German Weather Service (DWD) reported a preliminary reading of 41.5 degrees Celsius (106.7 Fahrenheit) on Saturday.
The new record was measured in the town of Möckern-Drewitz, located in eastern Germany. The DWD stated that temperatures could potentially approach 42 degrees Celsius and issued a red alert for the majority of the country on Saturday.
This follows the previous day’s record, when temperatures reached 41.3 degrees Celsius in the southwestern city of Saarbrücken. The figures released by the DWD are still preliminary and subject to revision.
Elsewhere, leaders from the steel, chemical, and automobile industries have criticized Germany’s rail operator, Deutsche Bahn (DB), attributing billions in losses to the company due to ongoing track closures. Industry representatives, in a report published by Welt am Sonntag, indicated that deteriorating DB infrastructure has increasingly forced them to shift their transport of goods and materials to highways over recent years, noting that truck transport is significantly less efficient than rail.
The steel industry, which relies on rail for nearly 50% of its product and raw material transport, is particularly affected. A spokesperson from Salzgitter steel company stated that they have had to reduce steel production. Similarly, a representative from ArcelorMittal reported that ore reserves at the company’s Eisenhüttenstadt steel works had reached critically low levels.
Germany’s chemical industry, which transports approximately 25 million tons of products and materials via rail annually, has also faced significant challenges. Wolfgang Große Entrup of the Chemical Industry Association (VCI) urged Deutsche Bahn to urgently improve its planning, coordination, and prioritization, emphasizing that freight transport should take precedence on detour routes during construction periods.
In political news, former federal president Joachim Gauck has urged politicians in Berlin to prioritize the nation over party politics, stating that citizens “expect resolve.” Gauck emphasized in an interview that true reforms require sacrifices and that political leadership must be capable of explaining these necessities to the public. He cautioned that avoiding difficult political decisions erodes the core of democracy.
Gauck’s remarks come as politicians struggle to reach agreements on long-term reforms, particularly concerning retirement and pensions. The government is preparing to vote on proposals from a special pension commission. While Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Labor Minister Bärbel Bas had previously pledged swift passage of the 33-point reform list, the legislation’s future remains uncertain. Voices within Merz’s conservative CDU, like Pascal Reddig, advocate for quick implementation, while others in Bas’ center-left SPD, such as Manuela Schwesig and Franziska Giffey, favor slower, partial reforms.
The DWD weather service is forecasting continued high temperatures, with expectations of over 36 degrees Celsius across the country on Saturday, with only some coastal areas experiencing slightly cooler conditions. Temperatures could reach as high as 42 degrees Celsius in certain locations. The forecast also includes the possibility of “tropical nights,” where temperatures remain high overnight, adding to the strain.
Little relief is expected in the immediate future, as high temperatures are predicted to persist until at least Monday, when thunderstorms are anticipated to bring temperatures down below 30 degrees Celsius. Isolated thunderstorms are expected to begin Saturday evening and continue through the weekend, potentially bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and hail.
