In Hamburg, a heat record that was almost 30 years old fell on Wednesday. In the early afternoon, the German Weather Service reported 38.4 degrees at the airport - in Neuwiedenthal the temperature was even 39 degrees at that time. The temperature record so far was 37.3 degrees, measured on August 9, 1992. The record for a July day in Hamburg was 36.9 degrees, measured on July 20, 2006.
In view of the heat and significantly increased UV values, DWD meteorologist Michael Bauditz recommended people to simply stay at home. The police also recorded “unremarkable and rather below-average operations” in the city, as a spokesman said.
Despite the dry soil, fields and forests, there were initially no large-scale heat operations by the Hamburg fire brigade. "So far we have not had any major heat-related fires," said a spokesman. The fire brigade rescue workers on the ambulances, on the other hand, have their hands full. Already on Tuesday there was an increased use of the emergency services. He hopes for the prudence of the citizens, who drink a lot on such hot days, avoid the sun and do little activity, said the fire brigade spokesman.
If you are looking for a cool down and carefree bathing fun in high summer temperatures in Hamburg, you should better avoid the Alster and Elbe. Although bathing is not prohibited, it is very dangerous, as the German Life Saving Society (DLRG) and the Hamburg environmental authority announced.
In the Alster, for example, the minimum depth of visibility of one meter is not given; under water, dangers lurked in broken glass, rubble and rubbish. In addition, in the warm summer months, potentially toxic blue-green algae repeatedly multiply, said a spokeswoman for the environmental agency.
You should also avoid swimming in the Elbe. "The Elbe harbors many dangers caused by shipping and the current," said a spokesman for the DLRG. The current is sometimes so treacherous and strong that even experienced swimmers cannot counteract it. "In the case of willful actions, it is checked whether the costs incurred by the use can be passed on to the swimmer," said a police spokesman about the consequences.
It was said that anyone who wants to swim in Hamburg should rather switch to swimming pools or natural pools. In the Hinterm Horn lake in Bergedorf, however, that was not possible on Wednesday. Because of the blue-green algae, the environmental authority had already closed the bathing lake.
The north should cool down for the first time on Thursday. According to the DWD, a low spur is slowly approaching, which will bring rain at the end of the night. "During the course of the day, thunderstorms with heavy rain and stormy gusts are also possible locally," said Bauditz. At the same time, it stays warm in summer at up to 25 degrees in Hamburg. Temperatures drop to 22 degrees on Friday and stay there on Saturday. “From Sunday the temperatures will rise again and then it will be summery warm again. Up to 30 degrees Celsius are possible again on Monday, ”said the meteorologist.
In order to be prepared for future periods of heat, the CDU called for a heat action plan for Hamburg. At the same time, parliamentary group leader Dennis Thering accused the red-green Senate of failing to prepare for such extreme weather conditions. In the city, for example, the sealing of green spaces and the felling of trees further accelerated the negative effects of heat waves. "Less and less shading and evaporation from fewer and fewer trees are exactly the wrong approach from red-green."
