The coming days won’t be kind to those who struggle with heat: temperatures across the Carpathian Basin are expected to mimic the sweltering Mediterranean summer. But there’s good news, too: a slight cooldown is on the horizon, and Budapest’s only free beach is reopening to the public.

Scorching days ahead

Forecasting the weather is rarely easy, especially considering long-term forecasts, but experts agree that some of the hottest days of the summer are expected this Wednesday and Thursday in Hungary. On Wednesday, orange-level heat alerts will be in effect for the counties of Csongrád-Csanád, Bács-Kiskun, Békés, and Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, where average daily temperatures are expected to exceed 27°C (81°F). Other counties will see level-one (yellow) alerts, as temperatures may surpass 25°C (77°F).

On Thursday, HungaroMet Ltd. issued the highest-level red warning for Csongrád-Csanád County, where average daily temperatures could exceed 29°C (84°F). Averages above 27°C are forecast for Baranya, Tolna, Fejér, Pest, Bács-Kiskun, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, and Békés counties, triggering orange alerts in those regions. Except for Nógrád and Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén counties, all others are under yellow warnings for expected average daily highs above 25°C.

Maps: Temperatures above 35°C (95°F) are expected in the following areas on Wednesday and Thursday (marked in red):

Heat records may be broken

According to HungaroMet’s forecast, Thursday could even bring a new all-time heat record.

Relief is expected by Friday, with temperatures dropping a few degrees to between 27°C and 33°C (81°F–91°F). However, strong winds, showers, and thunderstorms are likely, especially in eastern and northeastern regions. Saturday will bring similar conditions, with temperatures not exceeding 33°C, reports Időkép.

Yield in peril

While beachgoers and vacationers might welcome the heatwave, it spells trouble for agriculture. Significant rainfall has been absent for weeks, and much of the country is facing drought conditions that could devastate this year’s sunflower and corn harvests. “Usable water content in the top 20 centimetres of soil has dropped below 20% in many areas: dangerously low levels. The drought is especially severe for corn, sunflower, and soybean crops,” HungaroMet reported. Trees remain green for now thanks to better water reserves deeper underground.