Berlin Police Deploy Water Cannons to Cool Residents as Europe Heatwave Pushes Germany Towards 41°C

BERLIN – As Europe endures an intense heatwave, Berlin police have taken the unusual step of deploying water cannons normally reserved for crowd control to help residents and tourists cool down amid soaring temperatures. The two police water cannon vehicles toured the German capital on Saturday, spraying water over people gathered at some of Berlin's busiest landmarks, including the Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz, and the Reichstag, home of Germany's parliament.

The move comes as Germany experiences one of its most severe heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures approaching 41°C and authorities warning of heightened health risks, particularly for the elderly, young children, and people with underlying medical conditions. The German Weather Service (DWD) said the country has endured several consecutive days of extreme heat, compounded by exceptionally warm nights that have provided little relief.

Preliminary data from the national weather agency indicates Saturday night was the warmest ever recorded in Germany, with the overnight temperature reaching 29.4°C in Kubschütz, eastern Saxony. Meanwhile, a provisional daytime high of 41.5°C was recorded at 4:20 pm in Möckern-Drewitz, Saxony-Anhalt, making it one of the hottest temperatures measured during the current heatwave. Eyewitnesses welcomed the cooling initiative by Berlin police.

"It was a fantastic surprise," one tourist at the Brandenburg Gate told local media. "Everyone was laughing and enjoying the water because the heat was almost unbearable."

Another resident described the water spray as "a huge relief" after spending several hours outdoors in temperatures close to 40°C.

The DWD has also warned that the extreme heat could trigger severe thunderstorms later on Sunday, bringing heavy rain, hail, and damaging wind gusts to some regions. Climate experts have repeatedly warned that heatwaves across Europe are becoming more frequent and more intense because of climate change. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), rising global temperatures are increasing both the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including prolonged periods of dangerous heat.

Public health authorities continue to advise people to remain hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest hours of the day, seek shade where possible, and regularly check on vulnerable relatives and neighbours. Relief is expected to arrive on Monday as a cooler weather system moves across Germany. The DWD forecasts overnight temperatures dropping to between 19°C and 23°C, while daytime highs are expected to ease to 27°C to 31°C. Rain and isolated thunderstorms are also forecast, bringing an end to the worst of the current heatwave.

Berlin heatwave