Central Europe braces for another heatwave above 40°C

After a brief cool spell in Czechia and neighbouring countries, the region is bracing for another wave of extreme heat — weather models are forecasting temperatures above 40°C from Tuesday through Thursday.

Hungary will bear the brunt of it, with highs of up to 42°C expected, and actual readings at individual stations often exceeding forecasts. Temperatures above 40°C are set to hit Hungary as early as Monday, with things heating up even further on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Under this scenario, Hungary's national all-time record — set only recently, when 42°C was recorded in Szécsény on 30 June — could be broken again.

Southwestern Slovakia is also expecting temperatures above 40°C from Tuesday to Thursday, with a chance of surpassing this summer's record of 41.3°C, set back in June.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, temperatures in Austria will edge close to 40°C, including in Vienna, where the capital's all-time record — also 40°C — was only just set this June.

Similar heat is expected to spread across southeastern Poland, Slovenia, northern Croatia and Serbia, and by the end of the week, northwestern Romania. According to some models, temperatures approaching 40°C could also reach Moldova and Ukraine by the weekend.

In Czechia, the heat — with highs up to 40°C — is expected to persist until Wednesday, particularly in southern Moravia. From Wednesday onward, a wavy cold front will begin moving eastward across Central Europe, gradually bringing cooler air to the countries mentioned above.

The respite, however, is likely to be short-lived: very warm air could return to Central Europe as early as the start of next week, though temperatures are not expected to reach the extremes seen in the coming days.

The historic heat, combined with a lack of rainfall, is fuelling widespread drought across Europe — a situation that is also affecting major rivers. The water level in the Danube is currently at its lowest in 150 years.

Source: novinky.cz