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Hot days in the southwest: up to 37 degrees in a record-breaking heat wave!
Offenbach provides information about the heat wave in Germany: highs of up to 40 degrees expected, health advice is important.
Hot days in the southwest: up to 37 degrees in a record-breaking heat wave!
The summer heat is still keeping Germany firmly in its grip these days. On Wednesday the temperatures in the southwest of the country reached impressive values, climbing up to 37 degrees. This reports star. The highest temperature was recorded in Rheinfelden, Baden-Württemberg, where the thermometer showed 37.0 degrees. Bad Kreuznach in Rhineland-Palatinate also made people sit up and take notice with 36.6 degrees and Kaiserslautern with 36.5 degrees. This heat wave is forecast to continue in the coming days, with highs between 30 and 37 degrees.
In Baden-Württemberg, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate in particular, the German Weather Service (DWD) has issued an official heat warning that is valid today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Meteorologists advise avoiding the extreme heat, staying hydrated and keeping indoors cool. The heat stress can cause health problems, and in regions such as the Ludwigsburg district, the first heat warning level applies daily news reported.
Heat waves have global dimensions
But the heat is not just an issue in Germany: the heat wave is also being felt in other European countries. In Spain there is a risk of temperatures of up to 42 degrees, while heat warnings have also been issued in Portugal and southern France. These extreme values are part of a worrying trend that is increasing not only temperatures but also health risks.
The health effects of global warming are diverse. Studies show that over 47,000 people in Europe died as a result of extreme temperatures last summer, including around 3,000 in Germany in 2023 and 2024 alone. Older people and those with previous illnesses are particularly at risk. This is done by Deutschlandfunk taken up, which also points to the increasing spread of tropical diseases in Germany due to climate change.
Feeling the effects of climate change
Climate change, as worrying as it is, is also reflected in the spread of species that were previously not native to Germany. The Asian tiger mosquito is spreading in several federal states and could transmit tropical diseases such as dengue or Zika fever. Experts also warn of the psychological consequences of climate change, which can manifest themselves in the form of anxiety and depression. According to surveys, over 37 percent of young people in Germany say they are very afraid of the consequences of climate change.
It is time not only to keep an eye on current temperatures and their consequences, but also to work on long-term solutions. The Conference of Health Ministers has already decided to develop comprehensive municipal action plans to combat the heat by 2025. This could be a crucial step in improving health outcomes in times of extreme weather and help reduce heat-related deaths.
Overall, it is clear that climate change is already having far-reaching consequences that can also affect us here in Cologne. It remains to be hoped that both politics and society will take the necessary measures to overcome the coming challenges.