Poland could see its hottest temperature on record this week, according to forecasts from the country’s Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW), with the sharpest spike expected in the southeast on Wednesday.
Weather site WXCharts, citing the U.S. GFS model, projects highs of 41-42°C in southeastern Poland on Wednesday afternoon, enough to break the country's current record of 40.5°C, set in Słubice on June 28. A similar record-breaking reading, of 40-41°C, is also possible on Thursday near the border with Ukraine, though IMGW's own forecast for the region is slightly lower, at up to 38°C on Wednesday and 37°C on Thursday.
The heat builds through the week. IMGW forecaster Przemysław Makarewicz told Polish Radio that Monday would already bring highs above 30°C in the south and southeast, rising to 33-34°C in places, with second-degree heat warnings covering the southern half of the country and the highest, third-degree warning already in force in the southeast.
"Second-degree heat warnings have been issued for the southern half of the country. In the southeast, a previously issued third-degree warning remains in force", he said.
Nighttime lows are also expected to stay high, with so-called tropical nights — overnight temperatures no lower than 20°C — likely in southern regions, alongside a chance of rain in central and northeastern areas.
By Tuesday, third-degree warnings are set to expand to a broad belt running from Opole province through central Poland toward Lublin and northern Podkarpacie, with highs reaching 37°C in the southeast. That top-tier alert zone widens further on Wednesday to include all of Mazovia.
Some relief is expected Thursday, when the coast will be free of warnings and Warmia-Mazury will carry only a first-degree alert, though the highest-risk regions, including Silesia, Małopolska, Podkarpacie, Świętokrzyskie and Lublin, remain under second- and third-degree warnings.
Italy's "heat tsunami"
Italy is facing its fourth major heatwave of the summer and, for the first time, has placed 25 of its 27 most closely monitored cities under red alert, the highest level in its heat-warning system. Only Messina in Sicily and Reggio Calabria in Calabria — cities just 12 km apart across the Strait of Messina — have avoided the top alert.
Temperatures have ranged from 36-41°C from the Alpine north to the southern tip of the country, with Rome and Florence among the worst affected. Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported street-level readings of 53°C in Florence on Sunday, a figure media outlets have described as part of a "heat tsunami". Forecasts suggest the heatwave will persist until at least Aug. 8-10.
Italy's health ministry issues a red alert when heat is judged to endanger the health of the entire population, a designation accompanied by advice to avoid going outdoors during the hottest hours of the day.
(jh)
Source: Polish Radio