The uncharacteristically hot weather sweeping across Germany has broken records and almost sold the country out of cooling fans and beer bottles - but it has also unearthed a few secrets.
As the hot weather rages on into August, farmers are fearing the worst, and have gone cap in hand to the government, which is now deliberating over possible subsidies. So why does the farmers’ plight matter to the rest of us, and will the government bail them out?
July will go down in German weather history as one of the hottest since measurements began. And the month's final 24 hours have smashed the year's temperature record.
Farmers are warning that their livelihoods are at risk as Germany braces itself for another week of sizzling heat, with temperatures set to reach up to 39 degrees.
Weather forecasters said on Friday that temperatures in some parts of the country may rival national records as Germany continues to sweat under a heatwave.
Germany can expect a cooler Tuesday with heavy showers in the west of the country before returning to high summer conditions over the weekend, the German Weather service said.
This weekend is set to be the hottest Pentecost public holiday for at least 50 years, with temperatures forecast to reach 34C in some parts of Germany.
