September Heatwave Shatters Records Across Europe: Up to 40°C in Italy, Anomaly Hits Czechia Too

For several days in a row, Europe has been sitting under a powerful high-pressure system that created a so-called heat dome: sinking air warmed up more and more, while the stable weather pattern prevented the hot air mass from moving off the continent. As a result, temperatures across much of Europe reached anomalous — and in some places record-breaking — levels.

Already last week, weather stations in Spain, Portugal and France were recording readings above 40°C. In France alone, more than a thousand temperature records were broken in a single week, meteorologists report.

The heat shifts toward the Alps

Early this week, the abnormal warmth moved into the heart of Europe. On Tuesday it was especially hot around the Alps — a record temperature was registered in Grenoble, France, where the thermometer climbed to 37.2°C.

Several stations in Italy, including northern areas at the foot of the Alps, also recorded a so-called "super-tropical day," when the maximum temperature reaches at least 35°C. It was even hotter in Sardinia and Sicily, where temperatures came close to the 40°C mark.

Liechtenstein also saw the thermometer climb above 35°C — the Balzers-Mels station recorded 35.8°C. According to preliminary data, this could turn out to be the highest September temperature ever recorded in the country's history, though the record still needs to be confirmed. Switzerland came close to its own national September record as well, with thermometers in Geneva reaching 34.7°C.

Records fall in Czechia too

The extreme heat also swept through Central Europe. Temperatures in Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Czechia approached the 35°C mark.

The highest temperature in Czechia — 33.5°C — was recorded simultaneously on Tuesday in Doksany, Brod nad Dyjí and Dyjákovice. Nearly three-quarters of the country's weather stations broke their previous temperature record for September 8, Czech meteorologists note.

However, the anomalous September heat will come to an end this week: on Wednesday, a powerful cold front will sweep through Czechia, as it will through much of Europe, bringing a noticeable cooldown. By the end of the week, temperatures across most of the continent are expected to return to values typical for the first half of September.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz