A record set on Friday for the highest June temperature in Germany could potentially fall just a day later, with the German Weather Service (DWD) saying the mercury could climb to 42 C (107.6 F) in some places on Saturday.
On Friday, 41.3 C was recorded in the western city of Saarbrücken, according to preliminary data.
For Saturday, the DWD has forecast temperatures of between 36 and 41 C, and on Sunday, eastern and southeastern regions could see peak temperatures of 39 to 41 C.
The eastern Lausitz region could even see 42 C on Sunday, according to the forecasters.
The rest of Germany is expected to see — slightly — milder temperatures ranging from 32 to 38 C.
However, thunderstorms with strong winds and, possibly, hail, are also likely over the weekend, the DWD says, particularly in central and northern Germany.
The heat wave is predicted to move eastward toward the start of next week, with temperatures in Western Europe sinking to be more in keeping with normal summer levels.
The hot weather is being caused by a “heat dome” of trapped air from north Africa, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
However, climate scientists say the heat wave has been supercharged by human-induced global warming.
