Estonian in Germany endures nearly 40°C heat: "I'd rather have a rainy Midsummer back home"

A powerful heatwave is sweeping across Europe, with temperatures expected to shatter records in the coming days. Merike, an Estonian who has lived in Germany for over a decade, says the heat this year is unlike anything she has experienced before, her children are sleeping on the bathroom floor to stay cool. She admits she would happily trade the scorching summer for a rainy Estonian Midsummer.

A fierce heatwave has descended on Europe, and Estonians living abroad are feeling it acutely. Temperatures are approaching 40°C in parts of Germany, and forecasters warn that records could be broken in the days ahead.

Merike, an Estonian who has made her home in Germany with her two children for more than ten years, says the summers there have always been warm, but nothing like this. «The children are sleeping on the bathroom floor because that is the coolest spot in the flat,» she said.

No escape from the heat

During the day, Merike keeps all the window shutters closed and runs a fan at full power just to make the apartment bearable. Even so, the nights bring little relief. «It doesn't really cool down at night either, so sleep is quite broken,» she explained, adding that the relentless heat has also made getting to work considerably harder.

The situation reflects a broader pattern across Europe, where urban areas are struggling with insufficient cooling infrastructure and residents who are unaccustomed to such extreme summer temperatures. Countries like Germany, where air conditioning in homes remains relatively rare, are particularly vulnerable during heatwaves of this intensity.

"Give me a rainy Midsummer in Estonia"

Despite more than a decade away from home, the Estonian Midsummer, even the famously wet version, holds a special appeal right now. «I'd rather enjoy a rainy Midsummer in Estonia,» Merike said, summing up the feelings of many compatriots sweating it out across Europe this June.

As the heatwave continues, health authorities across the continent have urged people to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, and check on elderly neighbours who may be especially at risk.