RANKED: The worst German cities to spend a heatwave in
Periods of extreme heat in Germany can be dangerous, and they are becoming both more common and more severe as the planet warms.
When the weather gets hot, local temperatures in urban areas are amplified – especially in places with a lot of concrete and few trees – by what's called the 'heat island' effect.
More than 12 million people in German cities are exposed to extreme heat where they live, according to a study by the German Environmental Aid (DUH).
DUH's "Heat-check" report shows which German cities are more or less prepared for high temperatures, based on average summer surface temperatures, and the proportion of sealed cement areas versus tree cover.
Here are the worst German cities to be caught in a heatwave, according to the report published this June.
Germany's hottest cities
With an average midday surface temperature of 38.4C from June to August, Mannheim may be the worst German city to experience a heatwave.
Mannheim is the second most populous city in Baden-Württemberg and is home to a number of universities and a relatively high foreign population, but with about 56 percent of its area covered in concrete and just two percent shaded by trees, it can be sweltering on a summer day.
Following Mannheim, and with similar heat stats are the cities of Ludwigshafen am Rhein and Worms in Rhineland-Palatinate.
In fourth place is the Hessian city of Rüsselsheim am Main.
Germany's business capital, Frankfurt am Main, is also among the country's most heat-affected, ranking 5th in DUH's heat check this year.
Southern cities particularly affected
According to the study, heat stress is particularly high in southern German cities, where in-land temperatures trend higher in the summer months.
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The states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse in particular have most of the cities that are rated as being severely affected by heat according to DUH's analysis.
Bavaria's most affected cities are Aschaffenburg and Nuremberg, ranked 14th and 15th respectively.
Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt and Hildesheim in Lower Saxony were the only cities from the northern half of Germany that were grouped among the most at-risk category.
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Essential articles to help you survive a heatwave in Germany
The best prepared cities for extreme heat
Generally cities in the north, and especially those near to the coast, benefit from lower average temperatures in the summer. These include cities like Flensburg, Wilhelmshaven and Kiel.
However, the best prepared cities for extreme heat are not those on the coast but instead the North Rhine Westphalian cities of Hattingen, Gummersbach and Witten.
These cities have less sealed concrete space (at 40 percent or less of the settlement area) and high proportions of green spaces (at around five percent each).
A few other cities that scored well for heat adaptation were Hamburg, Hagen, Wuppertal, Marburg and Solingen, just to name a few.
Stuttgart, Leipzig, Hanover, Cologne, Erfurt, Düsseldorf and Berlin all had scores close to the median for German cities.
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Why the heat-check matters
The effects of global warming are already noticeable in Germany – according to the German Weather Service (DWD), local average temperatures have already increased by 2.5C compared to pre-industrial times.
According to estimates by the Robert Koch Institute, there were around 3,000 heat-related deaths in Germany in 2023 and 2024, and in 2022 there were even more.
Older people in particular suffer from high temperatures, and DUH's heat-check found that socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods tend to be more affected.
The Ministry of Health warns that especially days with temperatures above 30C can be harmful. It is important to stay hydrated on these days, also to avoid physical exertion and ventilation during the hot parts of the day, and to cool down with showers or foot baths.
READ ALSO:
8 of the coolest places in Germany to visit on hot summer days
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Local Germany
16-06-2025
- Local Germany
RANKED: The worst German cities to spend a heatwave in
Periods of extreme heat in Germany can be dangerous, and they are becoming both more common and more severe as the planet warms. When the weather gets hot, local temperatures in urban areas are amplified – especially in places with a lot of concrete and few trees – by what's called the 'heat island' effect. More than 12 million people in German cities are exposed to extreme heat where they live, according to a study by the German Environmental Aid (DUH). DUH's "Heat-check" report shows which German cities are more or less prepared for high temperatures, based on average summer surface temperatures, and the proportion of sealed cement areas versus tree cover. Here are the worst German cities to be caught in a heatwave, according to the report published this June. Germany's hottest cities With an average midday surface temperature of 38.4C from June to August, Mannheim may be the worst German city to experience a heatwave. Mannheim is the second most populous city in Baden-Württemberg and is home to a number of universities and a relatively high foreign population, but with about 56 percent of its area covered in concrete and just two percent shaded by trees, it can be sweltering on a summer day. Following Mannheim, and with similar heat stats are the cities of Ludwigshafen am Rhein and Worms in Rhineland-Palatinate. In fourth place is the Hessian city of Rüsselsheim am Main. Germany's business capital, Frankfurt am Main, is also among the country's most heat-affected, ranking 5th in DUH's heat check this year. Southern cities particularly affected According to the study, heat stress is particularly high in southern German cities, where in-land temperatures trend higher in the summer months. Advertisement The states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse in particular have most of the cities that are rated as being severely affected by heat according to DUH's analysis. Bavaria's most affected cities are Aschaffenburg and Nuremberg, ranked 14th and 15th respectively. Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt and Hildesheim in Lower Saxony were the only cities from the northern half of Germany that were grouped among the most at-risk category. READ ALSO: Essential articles to help you survive a heatwave in Germany The best prepared cities for extreme heat Generally cities in the north, and especially those near to the coast, benefit from lower average temperatures in the summer. These include cities like Flensburg, Wilhelmshaven and Kiel. However, the best prepared cities for extreme heat are not those on the coast but instead the North Rhine Westphalian cities of Hattingen, Gummersbach and Witten. These cities have less sealed concrete space (at 40 percent or less of the settlement area) and high proportions of green spaces (at around five percent each). A few other cities that scored well for heat adaptation were Hamburg, Hagen, Wuppertal, Marburg and Solingen, just to name a few. Stuttgart, Leipzig, Hanover, Cologne, Erfurt, Düsseldorf and Berlin all had scores close to the median for German cities. Advertisement Why the heat-check matters The effects of global warming are already noticeable in Germany – according to the German Weather Service (DWD), local average temperatures have already increased by 2.5C compared to pre-industrial times. According to estimates by the Robert Koch Institute, there were around 3,000 heat-related deaths in Germany in 2023 and 2024, and in 2022 there were even more. Older people in particular suffer from high temperatures, and DUH's heat-check found that socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods tend to be more affected. The Ministry of Health warns that especially days with temperatures above 30C can be harmful. It is important to stay hydrated on these days, also to avoid physical exertion and ventilation during the hot parts of the day, and to cool down with showers or foot baths. READ ALSO: 8 of the coolest places in Germany to visit on hot summer days
Local Germany
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Will Germany see extreme heatwaves this summer?
June has started out cool with scattered showers across Germany so far, but current weather forecasts suggest that the country could see a widespread heatwave later this week. Longer-term seasonal forecasts suggest that Germany could be headed for a particularly hot summer, with higher than average temperatures from July to September, and likely also more heat waves than have been seen in previous years. But longer term weather forecasts are tricky, and a scorching summer is not yet certain. What do climate forecasts predict for the coming summer? According to the German Weather Service (DWD), average temperatures across Germany are expected to be higher each month this summer than the average temperatures seen in the same months from 1991 to 2020. The DWD's figures suggest that Germany could see summer temperatures comparable to those recorded last year. But a report by the Weather Channel says that Germany could see a heat-dome event from July. A heat dome happens when a high-pressure system traps hot air over a specific region, causing significantly higher temperatures and often prolonged heat waves. From July on, the Weather Channel puts the probability of Germany experiencing one of its hottest summers at more than 70 percent. READ ALSO: Which German cities are best prepared for extreme heat? Advertisement That said, long-term weather forecasts always come with a degree of uncertainty. Weather systems are notoriously complex – being affected by temperatures, air pressure, humidity, winds, as well as far-away influences like ocean surface temperatures. The climate model used by the DWD was developed by the University of Hamburg and the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology. Rather than a simple weather forecast for the coming days, seasonal climate forecasts look at an ensemble of different weather prediction models. If the DWD creates an ensemble of ten initial parameters and eight of them predict a hot summer, then the probability of a hot summer would be 80 percent. What is known for sure is that, average temperatures have trended upward in recent decades due to human caused climate change. First summer heatwave expected from Thursday Following cool weather at the start of June – and scattered showers that brought at least temporary relief to drought conditions in much of Germany – weather forecasts are calling for high temperatures this week. "What we are experiencing here is a 180-degree weather turnaround," meteorologist Johannes Graf warned in a forecast for . As late as the Pentecost weekend, ground frost was seen in some parts of Germany. But from Tuesday temperatures are expected to rise rapidly, with high temperatures of 30C expected in the southwest by Wednesday. Daily high temperatures of around 30C are expected across much of the country on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, which would mark the first heat wave in many places in 2025. (In Europe, heat waves are generally defined as three consecutive days with temperatures of 30C or more.) Advertisement Nighttime temperatures are also expected to be warm during this time – at around 20C in some places. These so-called "tropical night' conditions can be stressful, especially for older people and people with circulatory problems. Staying hydrated and ventilating the house at night are good practices during back-to-back hot days. READ ALSO: 8 places in North Rhine-Westphalia to escape the heat this summer Following high temperatures at the weekend, a period of cooler weather is predicted to follow one week later, along with heavy rain or hail and strong winds in some places. Meteorologist Dominik Jung suggested in a recent column that predictions of hotter and drier conditions through the majority of the summer don't seem to fit the wild weather swings that are currently being seen. "In my opinion, a consistent summer high is not in sight," Jung wrote. Instead he predicts roller coaster weather conditions and a "yo-yo summer".
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