As part of the Klimprax project, the German Weather Service also studied Wiesbaden’s urban climate. The models show that by 2060, the number of summer days, hot days, and tropical nights in Wiesbaden will increase significantly.

“The city is taking precautions for hot days—but we can only get through a heat wave successfully if we work together,” said Mayor Mende. “We will experience heat waves more frequently in the future. That is why I urge all citizens: Take care of yourselves and each other. Check in on your neighbors, friends, and family members, and support them however you can—whether by helping with groceries, making regular phone calls, or paying visits. It’s important to me that this isn’t a one-time effort: Especially on hot days, it’s crucial to check in regularly and stay in touch. That way, we can prevent the worst from happening and get through the hot days together.”

How can I prepare for heat waves? How can I help others during a heat wave? What special precautions should be taken for pregnant women, babies, and children, and what about older adults? Answers to these and other questions, as well as background information on heat waves and heat protection, can be found at www.wiesbaden.de/hitze (opens in a new tab). Should extreme weather conditions occur, the city will provide updates at www.wiesbaden.de/krisenfall (opens in a new tab).

Mayor Mende pointed out that well-known recommendations can also be found at www.wiesbaden.de/hitze (opens in a new tab): “It is recommended to drink plenty of water regularly and to avoid physical exertion or to schedule it for the cooler morning and evening hours. The experience of the past few days has shown that these very measures help people cope well with the heat and relieve the burden on emergency responders.”

A comparison of the recent heatwave weekend at the end of June this year—with maximum temperatures of 39 to 41 degrees Celsius—with a weekend at the end of June 2025—with temperatures of 30 to 34 degrees Celsius—shows just how much extreme heat strains emergency services: Emergency medical service calls rose by about 42 percent, and hospital admissions by 30 percent. The increase was particularly pronounced among critically ill patients, with a rise of 162 percent. The number of deaths confirmed by emergency medical services rose from 3 to 33 cases. Not every single case can be directly attributed to the heat. However, the significant increase during the period of extreme temperatures highlights just how much extreme heat endangers older people and those with pre-existing health conditions in particular.

“Heat waves like this push emergency medical services and hospitals to their limits,” said Norbert Hagner, head of the Emergency Medical Services and Medical Emergency Response division. “When the number of calls spikes and more and more seriously ill people need to be treated, it places an enormous strain on all emergency responders. This makes it all the more important that everyone does their part to prevent emergencies from happening in the first place. That way, our teams remain ready to respond to the truly critical cases.”

Your own behavior is crucial. Dr. Katharina Ferrari-Kühne, deputy director of the Public Health Department, emphasized this: “Each and every one of us can help get through the heat safely by taking simple precautions. Not only should you adjust your own behavior to the temperatures, but you should also keep an eye on those who are particularly at risk—the elderly, children, and people with pre-existing health conditions—and reach out to them. And never leave people or animals in parked vehicles; even a few minutes can be life-threatening.”

The city itself is also preparing for future heat waves and has established a task force for this purpose. This task force works across departments and agencies, coordinates all municipal activities related to heat protection, and assesses which measures are necessary and feasible to protect and prepare the population of Wiesbaden, with the aim of subsequently implementing them.

One initial result is the short-term provision of a cool place with seating and drinking water: the air-conditioned Room 22 on the ground floor of City Hall, Schlossplatz 6. It will be open to residents on days when temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius or higher are forecast—initially Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. These hours will be adjusted as needed. In addition, a heat hotline has been set up: Starting Wednesday, July 8, staff members from the Public Health Department will be available at (0611) 319090 to answer questions about the heat, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The city has also produced a flyer with tips on how to stay safe during heat waves. This flyer will be mailed to households in Wiesbaden in the coming days.

An overview of all designated cool places and refill stations, as well as the guidelines from the heat action plan, can also be found at www.wiesbaden.de/hitze (opens in a new tab).