Sun is making a comeback, beckoning towards the waters
In recent weeks, Berlin and Brandenburg have experienced significant heat waves with temperatures rising up to 37°C, prompting official heat warnings and impacting outdoor activities, bathing operations, and restaurant businesses.
Impact on Outdoor Activities
The intense heat alerts issued since early to mid-August have likely discouraged some outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day, while encouraging people to seek shade or cooler environments. High temperatures typically encourage visits to lakes and open-air swimming facilities as a way to cool off, but extreme heat combined with the threat of thunderstorms (forecasted for late in this period) may have caused interruptions or caution around outdoor events and activities.
Impact on Bathing Operations
Given the heat wave, bathing operations such as public pools and lakes in Berlin and Brandenburg probably saw increased attendance as residents sought relief from temperatures exceeding 30°C. However, with the forecast of possible thunderstorms and fluctuating temperatures towards the end of the observed period, some temporary closures or reduced hours might have occurred for safety reasons, though specific operational details are not reported in the sources.
Impact on Restaurant Businesses
Outdoor restaurant and café businesses likely experienced mixed effects. The heat wave brought more people outdoors to enjoy meals and refreshments, especially in shaded or air-conditioned settings. However, the heat also poses challenges like the need for adequate cooling setups, water provision, and protection from the sun, which can increase operational costs. Sudden weather changes, such as localized showers or thunderstorms forecast for the end of the heat wave period, might have caused disruptions to outdoor seating arrangements or led to temporary closures.
Additional Context
July 2025 saw variable weather at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, but temperatures and wind conditions over August have been consistently warm to hot with occasional clouds and storms, aligning with the heat wave narrative. Germany overall is strengthening public communication and heat protection measures due to increasingly frequent heat events linked to climate change, which also affects Berlin and Brandenburg's public safety and economic sectors.
Current Situation
The Berlin Water Police are preparing for increased activity on the waters over the weekend, expecting more boats, rafts, and paddleboards. The German Weather Service predicts sunny and dry weather with temperatures up to 29 degrees Celsius for Monday. Gastronomy in Berlin is hoping for more stable summer weather due to weather-related restrictions affecting many restaurateurs.
The traffic light for the Columbiabad in Neukölln and the Sommerbad Staaken-West showed yellow, indicating medium occupancy. All other baths in Berlin were showing green, indicating low occupancy. The Berlin Bathing Operations are preparing for busy weekends due to the warm weather forecast. Berliners may be hesitant to fully trust the weather forecast due to recent experiences.
Indoor pools in Berlin experienced an unexpected summer success due to the gloomy weather, with more people visiting them in rainy weather. The summer baths in the capital and the Strandbad Wannsee counted around 760,000 visitors since the season started, about 110,000 fewer than in the same period last year.
Sources:
[1] Berliner Morgenpost [2] Deutsche Wetterdienst [3] Tagesspiegel [4] Berliner Zeitung [5] Der Tagesspiegel
Weather-Forecasting's Influence on Outdoor ActivitiesGiven the forecast of sunny and dry weather with temperatures up to 29 degrees Celsius for Monday by the German Weather Service, outdoor activities may experience an increase as people plan their events accordingly, while weather-related restrictions, such as localized showers or thunderstorms, might still pose challenges for outdoor operations and seating arrangements.
Need for Weather-Forecasting in Bathing OperationsAccurate weather-forecasting plays a crucial role in determining the operational hours and safety precautions for bathing operations, as thunderstorms forecasted at the end of a heat wave period can lead to temporary closures or reduced hours due to potential risks and disruptions in services.
