Germany hit by record temperatures

Germans are bracing for scorching weather on Saturday as a heatwave linked to dozens of deaths in Western Europe is expected to move eastwards, with temperatures breaking records and soaring above 40 degrees Celsius.

Britain, France, Switzerland and Germany have all experienced record temperatures during June, while the weather system could set other records as it moves from Germany towards Poland.

A new national record of 41.3 degrees Celsius was recorded on Friday near the city of Saarbrucken, close to the border with France, a spokesman for Germany's National Meteorological Service said, stressing that the measurement was preliminary.

The weather service issued extreme heat warnings for almost all of Germany on Saturday, while authorities urged citizens to save water.

In France, dozens of people, young and old, have lost their lives during the heat wave.

Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius have caused disruptions to rail transport and electricity production, led to a ban on alcohol consumption in some areas, the suspension of school classes and the postponement of outdoor activities.

"The heat wave will peak over the weekend, with temperatures well above 40 degrees in some parts of Germany," said Karsten Brandt, meteorologist at the weather forecast website Donnerwetter.de.

Organizers of the Ironman European Championships in Frankfurt announced that the cycling and running races, taking place on Sunday, will be shortened due to high temperatures.

Faced with the risk of infrastructure damage, such as the deformation of roads and the widening of train tracks, several major public service providers have taken measures to limit traffic.

Andre Berghegger, executive director of the German Association of Cities and Municipalities, called on citizens to use water sparingly due to the heat wave.

"We should rely as long as possible on voluntary cooperation; local authorities should only impose bans if that doesn't work," he told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung newspaper.

The most extreme temperatures are expected to begin to drop over the weekend, while severe storms are expected on Sunday.

Across Europe, cultural monuments have been forced to close, agriculture has suffered damage, and some hospitals have struggled to cope with the influx of patients.

According to Reuters Climate Monitor, the heat wave has raised temperatures up to 18 degrees above the seasonal average and is being driven by an atmospheric phenomenon known as the "Omega block."

This atmospheric pattern traps a large mass of hot air over a region for long periods, while cooler air remains at its edges.

Demand for electric coolers has increased significantly and Asian manufacturers of air conditioning equipment have reported a large increase in sales in Europe.

Most homes in Northern Europe are built to retain heat during the winter, not to keep the premises cool during the summer.

The World Meteorological Organization announced that this heat wave will begin to move towards the end of the month, affecting Central Europe and the Balkans.

Scientists say this heat wave would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change./ REL