The mercury in the southwestern city of Karlsruhe hit a blistering 35.6 degrees, according to meteorologist Bernd Zeuschner from the German Weather Service.
Temperatures along the Rhine River were also over the balmy 35-degree mark and even Bernburg an der Saale on the other side of the country hit a annual record of 33.5 degrees. Both Rügen and Usedom along the Baltic Sea coast, however, stayed a cool 18 degrees.
Germany can expect unsettled weather in the coming days, as a low pressure system brings considerably cooler air to much of the country. The far west will likely see rain and thunderstorms by as early as Thursday and temperatures only reaching 20 degrees. But the eastern half of the country will have another scorcher with many places baking in temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius.
“After that the heat wave will be over and it won’t be returning any time soon,” said Zeuschner.