On Tuesday, temperatures could rise to 37 degrees. On Wednesday the heat might get a little less. In the East of Westphalia, it could be still around 33 degrees, but the West of NRW will not break the 30-degree mark anymore. There might be some light showers, or possibly some thunderstorms. For the rest of the week temperatures will be between 25 and 27 degrees.

The fire brigades all over NRW were fighting against many forest and wildfires. 120 fire fighters from Germany and the Netherlands were trying to control a fire near Straelen in the lower Rhine region. A helicopter was used to help fight the blaze.

In Mechernich, a 2,500 square metre area of pine forest was destroyed. 80 fire fighters were able to extinguish the fire after two hours.

In a straw storage shed in the Münsterland, one-million euro damage occurred when a fire broke out, spreading to two adjoining buildings. „Several hundred of straw bales incinerated“, according to the police. In Lohmar a field with dry blackberry bushes burned out. 40 fire fighters prevented the blaze spreading to an adjoining forest.

But there is reason for delight in this heatwave: The outdoor pool operators are very happy. The numbers of guests have already broken every record. The city of Cologne noted an extreme run on their pools. 740,000 visits were registered, only 80,000 short of the last record in 2013. The pools in Duisburg and Essen also report record numbers in their pools.

Original text: GA/dpa

Translation: Mareike Graepel