Czechia braces for a scorching August: temperatures near 40°C and little rain in sight

According to the long-term forecast from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI), August in Czechia is set to be warmer than usual overall, with rainfall falling short of normal levels.

The heat peaks this week

The hottest stretch will run from August 3 to 9: starting Monday, daytime highs could edge close to 40°C, with tropical nights taking hold across the country. A brief cooldown is expected toward the end of the week, but temperatures could climb back above 35°C again early the following week.

The second week (August 10–16) and third week (August 17–23) of the month are also forecast to run above seasonal averages, with daytime highs averaging around 26°C and nighttime lows around 13°C.

The month's end brings relief, but not much

The last week of August (24–30) is likely to be the coolest stretch, with nighttime temperatures dropping to around 11°C and daytime highs to about 23°C. Even so, this period may still land within or just slightly above normal ranges.

Forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) paint a similar picture — August overall is expected to be slightly warmer than usual, with the sharpest deviation likely in the first half of the month.

Don't count on rain

Czechia remains gripped by a years-long drought that has already pushed river levels sharply lower. According to CHMI, there's no relief in sight for August, with precipitation expected to stay at or below average.

Weekly rainfall totals are expected to average between 10 and 15 mm, mostly in the form of brief showers and thunderstorms. That means some areas could see fairly heavy downpours while others go almost entirely without rain. ECMWF's medium-range forecasts likewise suggest that Central Europe will see precipitation at or below normal levels in August.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz