What changed
2026-08-02 05:52 UTC → 2026-08-02 10:26 UTC ·
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In mid‑July 2026 a The heat wave swept across North Rhine‑Westphalia, pushing temperatures that began in Essen mid‑July 2026 continued to a maximum intensify across Germany into August. Record‑high temperatures of 30 35‑38 °C and prompting activation of the German national heat plan. Health officials warned that the high temperatures posed risks for vulnerable groups, advising residents to stay hydrated, avoid midday outdoor activity, and seek shade. A few weeks later, were reported in early August, the German Weather Service forecast a continuation of the heat across North Rhine‑Westphalia, Baden‑Württemberg after recent thunderstorms. Temperatures were expected to rise sharply, reaching 34 °C along the Rhine on Sunday and potentially peaking at 37 °C in the northern Upper Rhine on Monday, Rhine, while western Rheinland‑Pfalz experienced severe drought, with isolated showers in mountainous areas. The forecasts indicated that the heat wave was persisting and intensifying only 2.1 mm of rain recorded in other German regions, maintaining heightened health and safety concerns nationwide. By early August, the prolonged heat also boosted outdoor‑pool week to 31 July. Outdoor‑pool attendance in North Rhine‑Westphalia. The German Society for Bathing noted that unusually high June temperatures and favourable early‑summer weather gave Rhine‑Westphalia surged, giving the season a strong chance of becoming a record summer, contrasting with the rain‑filled 2025 season. Municipalities discussed entry rules for children without swimming badges, though most record‑breaking one. Most pools kept existing policies, and admission prices remained set locally. By early August temperatures reached 35‑38 °C across much of Germany. The DWD warned of severe thunderstorms, heavy rain entry rules, but towns such as Hagen, Verl and hail; fire services in Baden‑Württemberg logged over 50 storm‑related incidents. In western Rheinland‑Pfalz, soil‑moisture data showed severe drought threatening agriculture Porta Westfalica required children and groundwater. The heat spurred record attendance at open‑air pools in North‑Rhine Westphalia, while mobile air‑conditioner sales jumped 130 % teenagers without a swimming badge to 387 000 units in the first half stay out of 2026. the water. Health officials highlighted the ongoing impact of the heat: data from 2004‑2024 show an average of 1 400 about 1,400 heat‑related hospital treatments annually, per year and 21 direct heat‑related deaths, with past extreme years causing thousands the 2018 summer seeing the highest mortality (≈8,500 deaths). The German Weather Service warned of deaths. increasing thunderstorm risk in Schleswig‑Holstein and Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, where temperatures of 27‑33 °C were expected, and noted strong thunderstorms on 31 July in Baden‑Württemberg that felled trees, closed roads and damaged infrastructure but caused no injuries. Forecasts pointed to further heat spikes of up to 38 °C in early August, sustaining heightened health and safety concerns nationwide.