A severe heatwave has gripped central and eastern Europe, shattering temperature records across the region. In early August, Austria recorded a high of 41.2C, while Slovakia reached 42.2C. Hungary also experienced extreme temperatures, hitting a peak of 41.8C, surpassing a record set in 1905. Overnight temperatures remained above 28C in some areas, marking it as a tropical night.
The extreme heat has been driven by a heat dome beneath the high-pressure system, which traps warm air close to the surface. This prolonged heat has dried out soil and vegetation, creating conditions conducive to the spread of wildfires. Fires have burned across Italy, France, Serbia, and Bulgaria, damaging forests and forcing residents to evacuate.
The heatwave has also had a significant impact on water levels in the Danube, which flows through much of the affected region. Water levels have fallen to an all-time low, exposing archaeological remains and wartime wreckage, including woolly mammoth bones, second world war ships, and remains associated with the Roman-era Constantine’s Bridge. Low water levels have also affected energy production, reducing the efficiency of nuclear power plants in Slovakia and Serbia and forcing Hungary to shut down a plant due to insufficient water for cooling.
In other weather-related news, a buoy in the Mediterranean recorded a sea-surface temperature of 33C, which, if verified, would be the highest recorded in the region. Meanwhile, Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in China on Sunday, prompting a red alert for prolonged heavy rainfall, high wind speeds, and extensive damage. The storm has since weakened to a tropical storm.
Japan is bracing for Typhoon Chan-hom, which is expected to make landfall near the coast of Tohoku between Tuesday and Wednesday, with up to 80mph gusts and an atmospheric pressure of 985 hPa. Another system, Peilou, formed on Sunday in the western Pacific, and although it is not expected to make landfall in the Philippines, it is likely to strengthen the south-west monsoon, bringing further rain across the country.
