Heatwave in Czechia Peaks: Plzeň Thermometers Hit Nearly 40 Degrees

On Friday, weather stations across Czechia recorded temperatures well above 30°C, with many stations breaking daily and even monthly records. The highest reading came from the Plzeň-Bolevec station, where the thermometer climbed to 39.4°C at 4:20 pm local time — and this figure may not even be final.

According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI), 63% of stations with more than 30 years of observation history (108 out of 171) broke their temperature record for July 31. At 19% of stations, this was the highest temperature ever recorded in July, while 5% of stations registered an all-time absolute temperature maximum.

This marks the second heatwave to hit Central Europe this year. During the first one, at the end of June, Czechia's all-time record was broken twice in a row. The previous record of 40.4°C, set in August 2012, was surpassed on June 27, when Doksany recorded 40.9°C — only for the same station to reach 41.9°C the very next day.

The CHMI currently has a warning in effect for very high, locally extreme heat stress on the body. In addition, meteorologists are warning of severe thunderstorms in western Bohemia, expected to arrive Friday evening and continue overnight into Saturday.

The heat will temporarily ease over the weekend as a cold front moves in, but forecasters expect a fresh surge of very warm air from the south early next week. Temperatures are predicted to climb back to around 35°C, accompanied by tropical nights when the mercury won't dip below 20 degrees.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz