Berlin's temperatures remain low.
Berlin, the vibrant German capital, faced an unprecedented heatwave last Wednesday, with temperatures soaring to a yearly high of 38.0 degrees Celsius between 4 and 5 pm. The city's public transportation system, the BVG, was among those affected, as some U1 and U3 lines were forced to switch to manual operation.
In response to the extreme heat, Berlin officials took several measures to protect vulnerable groups and ensure the city's infrastructure could withstand the conditions. At the Berlin Zoo, elephants were showered to cool off, while bears were given frozen fruit treats. Education unions in Germany, including Berlin, advocated for universal heat protection regulations in schools, suggesting the provision of free drinking water, green roofs, and shade structures.
German hospitals called for increased funding to upgrade their facilities to better handle the extreme temperatures, and residents and tourists were urged to pace themselves during the hottest day. The city's schools, hospitals, and public transportation system faced limitations, with some Berlin students enjoying a heat day off or shortened school hours, and some Berliners unable to access public pools due to them reaching capacity.
The German Weather Service (DWD) in Marzahn recorded the temperature, and the DWD had issued warnings about the heat and increased UV radiation. The New Garden in Potsdam was precautionarily closed, and trains on the affected lines ran at intervals of up to five minutes due to the manual operation.
As the heatwave caused many Berliners to seek refuge or refreshment, some found solace in air-conditioned stores and underground. The temperature at Brandenburg Gate U-Bahn station was 25 degrees, while the Gethsemanekirche recorded a cooler 24.5 degrees. Interestingly, FrischeParadies delicatessen in Prenzlauer Berg kept a chilly 10 degrees in the vegetable department.
Despite the challenges posed by the heatwave, Berliners showed resilience and adaptability, demonstrating informal public adaptation to the conditions. The city continues to work towards improving its infrastructure and policies to better prepare for future extreme weather events.
The German Weather Service in Marzahn recorded the temperature reaching ayearly high of 38.0 degrees Celsius, and they had issued warnings about the heat and increased UV radiation. Berlin officials implemented measures to protect vulnerable groups and ensure the city's infrastructure could withstand the extreme conditions, such as providing free drinking water and green roofs in schools, and urging residents and tourists to pace themselves during the hottest day.