Heat soars as political reforms split opinion

Germany’s DWD weather service is forecasting another day of record-breaking heat.

“This Saturday temperatures of more than 36 degrees (96.8 Fahrenheit) can be expected across the country, with only some coastal regions being slightly less hot” said DWD meteorologists who warned that temperatures, “may climb as high as 42 degrees (107.6) in some places.”

On Friday, Germany registered its highest temperature ever when the mercury rose to 41.3 degrees in southwestern Saarbrücken at 5:00 p.m. local time (1500 GMT).

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The DWD said “tropical nights” remain in the forecast, calling the lack of cool temperatures at night especially strenuous.

Forecasters said people in Germany should expect little relief, however, with high temperatures holding until at least Monday, when thunderstorms are expected to drive temperatures down to below 30.

The DWD warned that isolated thunderstorms arriving from the west will begin Saturday evening and continue through the remainder of the weekend, adding that residents should prepare to see “the full program — from heavy rain to high winds and even hail.”

Guten Tag from DW in Bonn, and Mensch, ist es heiß! (Man, is it hot!) for those who are keen to flex a bit of heatwave-related German.

Today we will be following record-high temperatures across the country as Europe’s heatwave continues unabated and slowly moves eastward from France and the UK. The federal weather service has forecast thunderstorms for later in the day so there may be some relief on the horizon but they warn it will still be a while before temperatures drop.

Meanwhile as former Federal President Joachim Gauk says “the nation expects resolve,” the country’s politicians seem stuck in a tug-of-war over reforms — specifically to retirement rules — with some arguing changes are happening too fast, and others saying they are too slow.

In a weekend report in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper, several heavy industry leaders bemoan billions in losses due to inefficiency at the nation’s rail carrier, Deutsche Bahn, noting that they have been forced to move much of their transport to roads due to poor logistics and slow infrastructure improvement to the rail system.

Lastly, outgoing Federal Antisemitism Representative Felix Klein expressed regret over the deteriorating quality of life experienced by Jews in Germany, noting that the conflation of Jewishness as such with Israeli politics in particular was one of several major problems facing the community.

Follow DW for all the latest news from Germany this Saturday, June 27