BERLIN: The German summer is off to a sweltering start, with temperatures set to hit 37 degrees Celsius as the country braces for a short heatwave over the solstice weekend.
Temperatures in western Germany have been forecast to reach up to 33 degrees on Saturday, which marks the astronomical start of summer.
A breeze is expected to provide a more bearable climate along the country's coastal areas, according to the DWD national meteorological service.
By Sunday, south-western Germany is expected to see a steamy 37 degrees, though nationwide temperatures are more likely to hover between 31 and 35 degrees.
The record temperature measured by the DWD was 41.2 degrees in July 2019, while the highest temperature ever seen in June was 39.6 degrees, in the same year.
Heavy downpours and storms are forecast to bring temperatures back down in the west and north-west on Sunday evening, with the rain due to move east and south-east overnight.
Temperatures on Monday are expected to reach a maximum of 30 degrees. The hot weekend coincides with the official start of summer on Saturday. The Earth's axis is slightly inclined as it orbits the Sun. This means that the northern hemisphere is currently tilted towards the Sun - resulting in long days and a high position of the Sun. — dpa
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