Heat record: 32.8 degrees in Ofteringen – That’s just the beginning!

Heat record: 32.8 degrees in Ofteringen – That’s just the beginning!

The heat has Germany firmly under control. On Saturday, June 21, 2025, record-breaking temperatures were measured in Baden-Württemberg. In Ofteringen, a district of Wutöschingen in the Waldshut district, the thermometer reached an impressive 32.8 degrees. This means that Ofteringen is currently leading the nationwide list, as reported by zvw.de.

The forecast for the coming days doesn't look any better: on Sunday the temperatures on the Rhine, Neckar and Kraichgau could even rise to 37 degrees. The nights bring a tropical feeling as the temperatures will not drop below 20 degrees. June will also remain record-breaking, with the highest value so far being 38.9 degrees, reached on June 30, 2019 in Mannheim.

Extreme heat in Germany

The high temperatures are entirely in line with a drastic trend that has become increasingly clear in recent years. In 2019, a new heat record of 42.6 degrees Celsius was recorded in Lingen, Lower Saxony, which was the first case in Germany that the temperature rose above 42 degrees. The numbers have increased again and again in recent years, most recently on July 15, 2023, when 38.8 degrees were measured in Erlangen, Bavaria. These extremes resulted in many cities like Cologne being hotter at lunchtime than popular vacation spots in southern Europe, as wetter.com reports.

The heat also brings significant challenges: from infrastructure damage such as bubbling on roads to health problems, particularly among older people and those with underlying health conditions. According to reports, the extreme temperatures have already led to an increase in emergency room visits to hospitals. And the economy has not been spared either; ticket sales for the Thalys high-speed train have been stopped due to disruptions.

Global connections of heat waves

But the heat is not just a national problem. Record temperatures are being recorded worldwide. Temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius were recently measured in parts of North America, while in southern Europe peak values ​​of up to 46 degrees were even reached in Italy. These heat waves often last for several days and increase the risk of drought and crop failure. There is also a worrying trend in Germany: the last two years have been extremely characterized by heat waves, with over 2,397 forest fires being registered in 2022 alone, especially in Saxony and Brandenburg, as bpb.de explains.

The drought from 2018 to 2020 is considered the most severe drought event in Central Europe in 250 years. Drinking water supplies in some communities were at risk during this time, triggering emergencies. And even now the publication of a national heat protection plan remains to be seen, while the federal government has adopted a water strategy to better meet future challenges.

This development is not just a local matter, but a global phenomenon that affects all regions. Global warming is associated with increasing intensity, which is expected to continue in the coming decades. These concerns about global warming and its effects are omnipresent and require urgent action.

The coming weeks will show how deeply the effects of the heat wave will have on our daily lives. What is certain, however, is that we have to get used to the rising temperatures and are well advised to take appropriate precautions.