Berlin Police Repurpose Water Cannons as Heatwave Grips Europe with Record 41.5°C Temperatures

In an unusual twist on crowd control, Berlin police deployed their powerful water cannon trucks on Sunday, June 28, to serve as giant mobile misting stations. Instead of dispersing crowds, the specialized vehicles cruised through Berlin’s busiest landmarks—including the Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz, and the Reichstag—spraying a fine, cooling mist over sweltering residents and tourists.

The creative response aimed to mitigate heat-related illnesses as Europe grapples with an unprecedented, historic heatwave.

Germany and Neighbors Shatter Weather Records

A persistent high-pressure system, known as a heat dome, has trapped hot air across the continent. With cloudless skies maximizing intense sunlight, multiple countries are rewriting their weather history:

• Germany: The country broke its national temperature record for the second day in a row, with provisional data showing temperatures peaking at 41.5°C (106.7°F) in Möckern-Drewitz.
• The Czech Republic: Registered its hottest day on record as temperatures hit 40.8°C in Doksany.
• Denmark: Logged a provisional all-time high of 37°C near Aarhus, shattering a record that had stood since 1976.
• Switzerland: Basel hit 39°C, marking the country’s hottest June day for the third consecutive day.

Expert Insight: Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group noted that a heatwave of this magnitude so early in the summer would have been “virtually impossible” just 50 years ago.

A Rising Death Toll Across the Continent

While the misting cannons provided a brief moment of relief and a unique selfie opportunity for tourists, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned of severe public health and environmental consequences. The extreme heat has already been linked to hundreds of fatalities:

• France: Health officials estimate around 1,000 excess deaths during the heatwave. Additionally, at least 55 accidental drownings were reported as people desperate to cool off swam in unsupervised locations.
• Spain: The MoMo mortality monitoring system attributed 327 deaths to the extreme temperatures over a multi-day span.

With daytime temperatures showing little sign of abating and unusually warm nights preventing natural cooling, authorities across Europe remain on high alert.