"In times of climate change, we should have experienced what will soon be a typical summer," explained DWD spokesman Uwe Kirsche. At the same time, he referred to developments such as dried-up river courses, forest fires and emergencies in the drinking water supply. "The extremes of this summer are also reflected in our climate statistics." Systematic weather recording has existed in Germany for around 140 years; according to the DWD, the system started in 1881.