As a heatwave connected to numerous fatalities in Western Europe was predicted to migrate east and bring temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) to Germany and Poland, Germans prepared for oppressive heat on Saturday.
June saw record heat in Britain, France, and Switzerland, and as the heatwave moves across the Rhine River, more records were predicted to be set.According to preliminary official statistics, a German record of more than 41°C was reached on Friday close to Saarbruecken on the French border, according to public broadcaster ARD.
The heatwave in France has claimed the lives of dozens of individuals, both young and old. Over 40°C temperatures have caused power generation and train transport to be hampered, alcohol bans to be implemented, schools to be suspended, and outdoor activities to be delayed.

"The heatwave is going to peak at the weekend, well over 40 degrees in some parts of Germany," stated meteorologist Karsten Brandt of Donnerwetter.de.
Due to the heat, the cycling and running routes in the Ironman European Championship long-distance triathlon on Sunday in Frankfurt were reduced, according to organizers.
Some large public service providers tried to lower traffic because they were concerned about potential damage to infrastructure, such as collapsing roads and swollen rail lines.

Due to the heatwave, Deutsche Bahn, the national rail operator of Germany, has offered customers the option to cancel long-distance travel reservations until early next week at no cost.
According to the firm, heat exposure and increased risk to signals, tracks, and overhead wires due to thunderstorms and wildfires are putting special strain on its infrastructure.
June has already been significantly hotter than typical in some parts of Germany, namely in the southwest.Heavy thunderstorms are predicted for Sunday, and the most intense heat is predicted to start to subside during the weekend.Cultural sites have had to close, agricultural has suffered, and certain hospitals have found it difficult to survive throughout Europe.

According to the Reuters Climate Monitor, the heatwave is being caused by a phenomena called an Omega block, which has caused temperatures to rise up to 18°C above their seasonal average.
With cooler air on its periphery, this weather pattern retains a bulging ball of hot air over areas over long stretches of time.Asian air conditioning manufacturers reported a surge in European sales, while demand for electric fans has skyrocketed.
In Northern Europe, the majority of housing is constructed to retain heat rather than to reduce it.According to the World Meteorological Organization, the current heatwave will start to change by the end of the month, affecting Central Europe and the Balkans.Without human-caused climate change, which has rendered this week's nighttime temperatures 100 times more likely than they would have been even 20 years ago, scientists say the heatwave would have been nearly inconceivable.