Record-breaking heat in Hesse: Temperatures peaked at 38.4 degrees - Record-breaking heat in Hessen: Temperatures reached as high as 38.4 degrees.
The German Weather Service (DWD) has forecasted showers and isolated thunderstorms for Hessen on Thursday, offering a much-needed respite from the intense heat wave that has been plaguing the region.
In recent days, Hessen has experienced temperatures reaching up to 38.4 degrees Celsius, marking the highest temperature recorded this year and the hottest day of the year so far. The heat brought people in Hessen to a sweat, with the city of Darmstadt experiencing temperatures as high as 37°C during heat waves.
However, compared to the expected peak temperatures of up to 39°C or more during the 2025 heat wave, the temperatures in Hessen this year have been slightly lower. While Hessen has not seen national record-breaking highs like southern Europe, recent heat waves continue to challenge historical temperature norms and heat resilience in the region.
The 2022 heat wave in Hessen was severe enough to prompt warnings and the implementation of heat mitigation measures such as live heat maps showing cooling islands and heat hotspots in cities like Darmstadt. The 2025 heat wave, described as early-summer and unusually severe compared to past events, is expected to be even more intense.
Historically, Europe has experienced extreme heat episodes such as the prolonged heat wave of the 1540s which caused severe drought and health crises. However, modern temperature records for Hessen have generally peaked below those extreme historical events.
The DWD has evaluated this week's heat wave in Hessen as exceptionally intense and unusually early. The provisional peak temperature in Hessen remains at 38.4 degrees Celsius, though the values for Thursday's temperatures still need to be checked.
In the south of Hessen, the temperature high is expected to be up to 28 degrees, while the highs of the temperature in the north of Hessen are expected to be 23 degrees. The heat wave in Hessen is expected to come to an end soon, offering relief to residents who have been struggling with the sweltering heat.
Despite the record-breaking temperatures, it's important to remember that the absolute records in Hessen remain slightly below the most extreme European temperatures. The German Weather Service in Offenbach made the forecast for Thursday's weather in Hessen and the announcement about the temperature.
It's worth noting that a record temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius was previously measured in Hessen on July 25, 2019, in Frankfurt's Westend. However, no new record temperature was predicted for Thursday in Hessen.
As Hessen braces for a cool down, it's a reminder of the importance of heat mitigation measures and the need for continued vigilance in the face of increasingly intense heat waves. The provisional values still need to be checked, but it's clear that the heat wave has been a significant challenge for the region.
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive regarding environmental-science and weather, considering the impact of intense heat waves on the environment. The German Weather Service's forecast of showers and isolated thunderstorms in Hessen serves as a reminder of the potential for weather patterns to influence the progression of environmental-science issues, such as heat waves, in the region.
