Scorching City Heat: Temperatures reach 28 degrees, peaks anticipated to rise further
Rising Temperatures and Increased Visitor Numbers at Berlin's Public Baths
As the summer heatwave continues, Berlin's public baths and lakes are witnessing a significant influx of visitors. The desire to cool off and enjoy outdoor recreation is driving this trend, as Berliners and tourists flock to outdoor pools and bathing lakes, which are easily accessible by public transport and offer water playgrounds and facilities for families and individuals to relax and refresh.
However, this year has presented challenges for Berlin's public outdoor pools. Earlier seasonal closures due to municipal budget cuts, heating reductions, and generally cooler weather have led to an overall decline in visitor numbers compared to previous years. Yet, spikes in visitation occur during warm spells toward the end of the pool season, highlighting how warm weather drives demand despite operational constraints.
Safety concerns about blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in nearby lakes are a seasonal risk. These algae blooms often proliferate in warm, nutrient-rich waters during summer months, posing health risks such as skin irritation, gastrointestinal problems, and respiratory issues upon contact or ingestion. While the specific situation in Berlin's lakes was not mentioned in the search results, it is important to note that bathing lakes are periodically monitored for cyanobacteria levels, and advisories or temporary bans on swimming may be issued if dangerous concentrations are detected. Swimmers are generally advised to avoid water that looks discolored, foamy, or has visible scum, and to heed public health warnings to prevent health risks associated with blue-green algae.
Looking at the current situation, the State Office for Health and Social Affairs advises that nearly all bathing spots in Berlin can be visited without hesitation. However, warning signs are in place for three bathing spots due to blue-green algae: Lieper Bucht, Bammelecke, and Große Krampe. Additionally, it is currently not recommended to bathe in Angermünde at the Wolletzsee and in Alt Zeschdorf at the Hohenjesarscher See (district of Märkisch-Oderland) due to a risk of blue-green algae bloom.
On Monday afternoon, the Columbiabad in Neukölln, the Sommerbad Staaken-West, the Kinderbad Monbijou, and the Sommerbad Wuhlheide showed medium occupancy, with around 34,000 people visiting the public baths in Berlin on Saturday and about 15,000 on Sunday.
The weather in Berlin and Brandenburg is expected to get even hotter, with temperatures of 28 to 31 degrees on Tuesday and very hot conditions on Wednesday (31 to 35 degrees). The sun will shine again on Tuesday, providing another day for Berliners and tourists to enjoy the city's public baths and lakes.
- Source 1
- Source 2
The influx of visitors to home-and-garden in Berlin's public baths and lakes is driven by the desire for outdoor recreation and cooling off, as people enjoy water playgrounds and facilities provided during warm weather. Despite operational challenges such as earlier seasonal closures and heating reductions, warm spells towards the end of the pool season still lead to spikes in visitation.
As the weather in Berlin and Brandenburg is expected to warm further, reaching temperatures of 28 to 31 degrees on Tuesday and 31 to 35 degrees on Wednesday, the demand for visiting home-and-garden will likely continue to increase.
