Germany has sweltered through its hottest night on record in nearly seven years, the country's meteorological service said on Thursday, citing preliminary data, as much of Europe continues to bake in a persistent heatwave.
Temperatures did not fall below 26.2 degrees Celsius in the south-western town of Bad Bergzabern, near the French border, overnight, matching the previous record for the hottest night recorded on the nearby Weinbiet mountain on July 25, 2019.
While day-time temperatures continue to inch towards the 40-degree mark in many parts of the country this week, they also no longer drop below 20 degrees overnight in many areas, a phenomenon classified by the German Weather Service as tropical nights.
Regions in southern and western Germany are more likely to see tropical nights, which are also more common in urban areas, according to the Environment Agency.
Intense heatwaves like the one having held much of Europe in its grip over the last days have become more common and are expected to intensify due to climate change.
Figures from the German Weather Service show that the average number of days with temperatures above 30 degrees has increased in Germany.
Although there are significant fluctuations from year to year, the Environment Agency has said that the overall trend is on a clear upward trajectory.
Temperatures have been forecast to rise to up 41 degrees in some areas in Germany by Friday, and there is no respite in sight before the start of next week, when partially severe thunderstorms could potentially hit the country on Monday.
In the eastern city of Dresden, authorities have issued a ban on abstracting water from lakes, rivers and streams until the end of October due to drought and low water levels. Any violations can be met with a fine of at least €50 ($56).
