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Germany Sets Third Consecutive Extreme Temperature High as Services Reach Breaking Point

City leaders are pressing the federal and state governments for permanent, fully funded heat‑protection programs as the national weather service warns storms will bring cooling from Monday.

Overview

  • Provisional readings reached a new peak of about 41.7°C in Coschen on Sunday, marking three days of successively higher national highs after measurements of roughly 41.3°C on Friday and 41.5°C on Saturday.
  • The German Weather Service (DWD) kept extreme-heat warnings in place and said parts of the country could see temperatures near 42°C before thunderstorms and notable cooling begin on Monday.
  • Hospitals, fire brigades and ambulance services reported record call volumes and capacity strains while at least six fatal bathing accidents were reported across multiple states.
  • Rail and local public transport were reduced or halted, several autobahn stretches suffered heat-related pavement damage and Leipzig suspended tram services because rail and switch components softened in the heat.
  • Active wildfires burned in dry areas such as the Gohrischheide and municipal leaders warned that a roughly €30 billion annual local budget shortfall risks blocking costly adaptation measures like urban green, shade, water-retention schemes and cooling upgrades for care facilities