Germany saw temperatures top 40C at several locations on Friday, according to preliminary weather service data, breaking the previous recorded high of 39.6C for the month of June.
Five different weather stations saw readings over 40 degrees, including 40.9C in the western city of Saarbruecken, according to preliminary data, the German Weather Service (DWD) told AFP.
Germany is expected to continue sweltering under record heat over the weekend, with the DWD warning that local temperatures in parts of the country could hit 42C on both Saturday and Sunday.
The highest temperature on record in Germany in any month is 41.2C, which was recorded in July 2019.
The extreme forecast has already prompted the cancellation of numerous events over the weekend, including concerts, festivals and sporting competitions.
The Bad Homberg Open professional tennis tournament was suspended on Friday and the event's final was rescheduled for earlier in the morning on Saturday to avoid the sweltering conditions.
Cologne called off a children's and family festival scheduled for Sunday, while an outdoor opera performance in Leipzig was scrapped after the opera house decided it would be "irresponsible" to have a youth choir perform in such heat.
Environmental authorities in western Germany warned that the heat could cause a fish die-off as rising water temperatures in the Rhine, Mosel and Saar rivers drive down oxygen levels.
Some events are moving forward, such as pride gatherings in Munich slated for Saturday -- though officials warned that the LGBTQ celebrations would be "hot and crowded" and urged attendees to wear hats, drink enough water and apply strong sunscreen.
The deadly heatwave has already baked much of western Europe. Spain has reported scores of heat-related deaths and France has said dozens have drowned and several infants have died in hot cars.
As the heatwave moves east, other parts of central Europe are bracing for extreme highs along with Germany, including temperatures over 40C forecast in the Czech Republic and Hungary.