Heatwave in Hungary peaking, 120-year-old record will probably break – UPDATE!

Based on weather forecasts, today will be this year’s hottest in Hungary. The UV radiation will be extra high, so experts recommend that everybody stay home and not get exposed to the radiation and heat. The heatwave in Hungary is peaking today, so be cautious.

Heatwave in Hungary peaking today

HungaroMet, the state-owned successor of the Hungarian Meteorological Service, Sunday saw another record broken since thermometres in Körösszakál showed 41 degrees Celsius. That means a 116-year-old record was broken in Hungary. The previous peak was in Eger in 1908, with 39 degrees. From Sunday to Monday, in Szeged, the temperature decreased only to 27 °C, which made a good night’s sleep almost impossible without air conditioning in the Hungarian City of Light.

Today’s question is whether another record will be broken like yesterday, also in Körösszakál with 39.5 degrees. Here is a chart of the Monday peaks, but today will be even hotter:

According to HungaroMet, today, maximums will be between 35 and 41 degrees, but in some places, the temperature may rise even above 41 °C. Therefore, today’s temperature may break even the absolute national heat record, measured in 2007 in Kiskunhalas (41.9 °C).

Highest-level warning in Hungary

Showers may take place in the Northeastern regions of Hungary, bringing the weather down a bit. We can expect hail and storms in every part of the country due to the extreme heatwave in Hungary. HungaroMet recommends everybody consume enough water and endure the extreme heat in climatised places. The UV radiation will be extreme today.

Beaches are open but pay attention to the UV radiation. Photo: MTI

Authorities issued the highest-level, red warning in ten counties. People should be cautious in Pest, Baranya, Bács-Kiskun, Békés, Csongrád-Csanád, Fejér, Hajdú-Bihar, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok and Tolna counties. The daily average will not decrease below 29 degrees in those places, index.hu wrote.

Will summer last 5-6 months in Hungary?

The extreme heat may cause headaches, tiredness, fluctuation in blood pressure, and sickness. Hot nights may cause somnipathy and insomnia.

According to the data of HungaroMet, the average temperature this June in Hungary was 21.6 degrees, 1.8 degrees more than the 1991-2020 average. This June has been the fifth hottest month since 1901. Furthermore, this half year has been also the hottest ever.

Lake Balaton. Will it dry out? Read our article in the issue HERE. Photo: MTI

The Climate Policy Institute of the MCC said there were years (2012, 2021, 2022, 2023) when the number of heatwave days exceeded 15. And the future is grimmer. If humanity continues the emission of greenhouse gases like before, the number of heatwave days may grow to 40-50. That would mean the summer season would last 5-6 months in the Hungarian Great Plains.

UPDATE 1 – Daily maximum already broke

Hungary’s daily maximum (40 degrees) already broke today in Körösszakál, where thermometres showed 41.4 °C at 3 PM, Időkép wrote. A weakened cold front will reach Hungary on Wednesday, moderating the scorching heat and lowering daily maximums by a couple of degrees.

UPDATE 2 – Historic maximum did not break today

Körösszakál’s 41.4 °C was the highest temperature measured today, so the record of 41.9 degrees (Kiskunhalas, 2007) remains.

Read also:

• Trains running in Hungary not fit for this climate – MÁV’s advice HERE
• VIDEO of Wizz Air’s Budapest flight being struck by lightning in THIS article