Too dry, too hot, very sunny: Sizzling June leaves Germany sweating

June was another hot, dry and sunny month in Germany, the national weather service confirmed on Monday.

Temperatures reached 18.5 degrees Celsius across the month, up 3.1 degrees on the average level of 15.4 degrees during the international reference period of 1961 to 1990.

In comparison with the more recent 1991-2020 period, which saw an average June temperature of 16.4 degrees, temperatures were 2.1 degrees higher this year, the Offenbach-based agency said.

South-western Germany was particularly affected by the heat, with more than 10 days above 30 degrees in the Upper Rhine region.

The country also basked in a hefty 277 hours of sunshine, up 28% from 203 in the earlier reference period, and a noted increase on 216 in the more recent one.

The hot, sunny weather left precipitation levels at 61 litres per square metre far lower than the 1961-1990 average of 85 litres and the 76 litres seen across 1991-2020.

Germany, like many parts of Europe, is currently experiencing a major heatwave.

Maximum temperatures are forecast to reach 35 degrees on Monday, the last day of June.