Germany and Poland are bracing for sweltering conditions as a deadly heatwave that has gripped Western Europe moves east, with temperatures expected to approach 40°C over the weekend.
Britain, France and Switzerland have already recorded unusually high June temperatures, while further records could be tested as the heat crosses the Rhine into Central Europe.
German public broadcaster ARD said temperatures of more than 41°C were recorded on Friday near Saarbruecken, close to the French border, according to preliminary official data.
In France, dozens of people, including young and elderly residents, have died during the heatwave. Temperatures above 40°C have disrupted rail travel and power generation, prompted alcohol bans, forced school closures and led to the postponement of outdoor events.
“The heatwave is going to peak at the weekend, well over 40 degrees in some parts of Germany,” said Karsten Brandt, a meteorologist at weather forecasting site Donnerwetter.de.
The Ironman European Championship long-distance triathlon, due to take place in Frankfurt on Sunday, has shortened its cycling and running routes because of the heat, organisers said.
Public service providers are preparing for possible damage to infrastructure, including buckling roads and expanding rail tracks.
German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn has allowed customers to cancel long-distance bookings into early next week without charge because of the heatwave.
The company said its infrastructure was under particular strain from sun exposure, while thunderstorms and wildfires posed additional risks to signals, tracks and overhead wires.
Parts of Germany, particularly in the south-west, have already experienced a much hotter June than usual. The most extreme heat is expected to begin easing over the weekend, with heavy thunderstorms forecast on Sunday.
Across Europe, the heatwave has forced cultural landmarks to close, damaged farming and placed additional pressure on hospitals.
In Britain, doctors said hot weather had affected critical equipment, including MRI scanners. In Sweden, high temperatures caused rail tracks to buckle, leading to a cargo train derailment. In Germany, the surface of the A2 motorway buckled and ruptured across several lanes.
Demand for electric fans has surged, while Asian air-conditioning manufacturers have reported rising sales in Europe.
Many homes in northern Europe are designed to retain heat during colder months, rather than stay cool during extreme temperatures.
The heatwave has pushed temperatures as much as 18°C above seasonal averages, according to the Reuters Climate Monitor.
Scientists say it is being driven by a weather pattern known as an Omega block, which traps a mass of hot air over a region for an extended period, with cooler air remaining on its edges.
The World Meteorological Organisation said the current heatwave is expected to shift by the end of the month, affecting Central Europe and the Balkans.
Scientists have said the extreme heat would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change. They also say climate change has made this week’s unusually hot night-time temperatures far more likely than they would have been two decades ago.
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