Hungary braces for extreme UV radiation and scorching heatwave starting Sunday

Hungary is set to experience exceptionally high UV radiation levels and the most intense heatwave of the summer so far, meteorological services have warned. On Sunday, UV-B radiation is expected to exceed warning thresholds across the entire country, followed by a surge in temperatures nearing 40°C in the coming week.

UV index to reach dangerous levels

According to HungaroMet, the national weather service, UV-B radiation will surpass the critical index value of 7 in all regions on Sunday. Forecasts predict a UV index of 7.6 in the Northern Great Plain, 7.7 in the Southern Great Plain, and up to 7.8 in Central and Western Transdanubia, as well as in Pest County and Budapest. The highest readings, around 7.9, are expected in Southern Transdanubia and Northern Hungary.

Authorities strongly advise avoiding direct sun exposure between 11 AM and 3 PM and recommend wearing protective clothing such as shoulder-covering shirts and straw hats, along with using sunscreen. For individuals with normal skin, even 15–20 minutes in direct sunlight could result in sunburn under these conditions.

Subtropical heatwave to grip the country

As if the UV levels weren’t alarming enough, a subtropical air mass will sweep into the Carpathian Basin starting Sunday, kicking off the hottest spell of the summer so far, Időkép reports. Sunday’s temperatures will already hover around 30°C nationwide, but Monday will bring a dramatic rise.