weather

Their forecast did not come true, government fired meteorological service leaders

Hungary storm forecast meteorological service

The chairwoman, Dr Kornélia Radics, and the professional vice-chair, Gyula Horváth, of the Hungarian Meteorological Service (OMSZ) have to resign with immediate effect. The minister of innovation and technology, László Palkovics, decided so. The ministry’s announcement added that Palkovics would decide about the new leaders of the OMSZ later. The cause is the OMSZ’s August 20 forecast. That is why the government postponed the traditional fireworks in Budapest.

It is almost impossible to give a 100% forecast 

Rita Nagy-Kurunczi, a leading meteorologist of the Időkép, said that there was a significant chance for great storms until the last moment on 20 August. Therefore, a detailed examination is needed why the forecast of the OMSZ proved incorrect. She added that all models, including the American, European, German and French calculated with an extensive precipitation block over Central Hungary in the evening, telex.hu wrote.

The original forecast of the OMSZ was 75-80 pc for a rainstorm by 9 pm on 20 August. But they said there was a 20-25 pc chance for no rain. Later that day, they shared posts warning about rainstorms and showers. Based on those data, the operative board postponed the fireworks for this Saturday in Budapest. However, there was no rain.

Hungary storm forecast meteorological service
OMSZ photo taken in August 20. Photo: FB

Government-close media did not wait to start slamming the OMSZ

The government-close media immediately started to attack the meteorological service claiming they made a huge mistake. Meanwhile, the OMSZ said all their forecasts include a probability factor, and on 20 August, the least probable scenario happened. They added they tried to communicate that, as well.

Rita Nagy-Kurunczi said that calculating the development of such a precipitation block was very difficult, and the results were uncertain. Furthermore, such precipitation blocks can come into being in just an hour, as happened over Lake Balaton that day.

Hungary storm forecast meteorological service
This was the OMSZ’s forecast in the early hours of August 20. Photo: OMSZ/FAcebook

Catastrophes happened when politicians did not listen to meteorologists

Telex.hu brought up the August 20 storm in 2006 in Budapest in connection with the case. That year, 1,500,000 people were out watching the fireworks. But when the storm started, everybody wanted to leave the venues at once. More than 300 people were injured, and five people died in the chaos. One of the casualties was only 12 years old. A married couple fell into the raging Danube from a boat during the storm.

We already know that the tragedy was caused by severe organisational deficiencies, panic and darkness. Moreover, there were not enough ambulances in Budapest. The meteorological service forecasted a possible storm, but that information did not reach the decision-makers. Since then, an operative board has been responsible for the fireworks in Budapest. Today, all intelligence from the police, disaster management services, military, ambulance, and meteorological service goes to the board members.

UPDATE

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Photos: huge fire raged in Budapest, heat record broken again

Fire Budapest

The undergrowth was burning in almost 60 hectares in the 18th district in Budapest this afternoon. The Liszt Ferenc International Airport is close to that district, but the fire did not endanger its facilities. However, it was very close to residential areas. Therefore, even people living in the nearby streets rushed to keep it at bay.

Fire devastated Budapest grove

Sándor Szaniszló, the mayor of the 18th district, wrote in a Facebook post that he was very proud of local residents. He also said this was the second time this week that a fire took place in the groves of the district. As the leader of the local government, he pledged to take measures to prevent such damages in the future.

Péter Kolozsi, the deputy spokesman of Budapest’s disaster management authority, said the undergrowth burned on almost 60 hectares. The size of the area, extreme heat and poor road conditions all prevented the fire extinguishers from doing their work. At last, they were successful and stopped the spread of the fire by 7 PM, Telex.hu reported.

Here are some photos:

Heat record again in Hungary

August 19 was the hottest day on record in Hungary, the second this summer, according to the National Meteorological Service (OMSZ).

The mercury hit 39.6 degrees Celsius in Baja, in southern Hungary. The Budapest record was also eclipsed with 38.2 degrees measured in Ujpest, a northern district, OMSZ said on Facebook. On Wednesday, record high daily temperatures of 37 degrees Celsius were measured in both Baja and Kübekháza, in southern Hungary.

According to forecasts, a cold front is pulling in with thunderstorms, showers and gusty winds from the west in the evening.

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Heavy rain expected this weekend in Hungary, festive events in danger?

adult in the rain city dark

Heavy rains are expected over the weekend – even festive events could be washed away by the weather.

The drought will finally end with several days of rain – however, this might mean that the 20 August celebrations are in danger in several places. The heatwave will end everywhere by Sunday, with highs in the 30s degrees C in some places and near 20 degrees C in wet areas. On Saturday, there is a good chance of thunderstorms in the evening hours in Hungary, szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu reports.

The weekend is less favourable for festivities, but more favourable for easing the drought, according to Időkép. An undulating cold front will destabilise the atmosphere, while the earlier heat will provide enough energy for thunderstorms to develop. What is also good news is that summer is unlikely to bring any more heatwaves.

Friday, 19 August

On Friday, a cold front will increase cloudiness in the west, in the Transdanubian region and in the central parts of the country, and in the afternoon and evening hours, showers may develop in several places, with occasional severe thunderstorms. South-southeasterly winds will be strong in several places. High temperatures will be between 33 and 41 degrees, but after showers and thunderstorms, the air may cool down suddenly by several degrees.

Saturday, 20 August

On Saturday, clouds will often increase and intermittent showers and thunderstorms are expected in several areas, as well as severe thunderstorms with downpours, hail and gusty winds. Strong winds can be expected from the north-northwest in many areas. Highs will be between 26 and 36 degrees Celsius, with the warmest in the northeast.

Sunday, 21 August

On Sunday, there will be lots of clouds in the sky, and rain, showers, thunderstorms and occasional downpours are expected in many places. The wind from the north will be strong and brisk in most parts of the country, with gusty winds in the Transdanubian region. Temperatures are expected to be between 21 and 31 degrees Celsius during the day, with the warmest in the northeast and east.

Monday and Tuesday, 22 and 23 August

On Monday and Tuesday, there will still be a chance of intermittent rain, showers and thunderstorms. On Monday, strong, sometimes gusty winds from the north, on Tuesday, only in the west and northwest. Highs will be between 20 and 32 degrees Celsius on Monday and between 24 and 31 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, with lower highs in the rainier areas.

august 20 celebrations fireworks budapest
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Highest level heat alert issued in Hungary!

Heat alert Hungary water

The chief medical officer has issued a highest-level heat alert in effect from Wednesday until Friday midnight, based on a forecast by the weather service and on the public health centre’s (NNK) recommendation.

The NNK and the national disaster management authority warned in a joint statement on Tuesday that extreme hot weather puts extra stress on the body and could cause fatigue. They recommend taking plenty of rest and avoiding hard physical work, as well as avoiding extended sport activities like jogging and cycling during the hottest period of the day.

Drivers have also been cautioned of the unfavourable effects extreme heat could have on them.

A highest level third-degree heat alert is issued when the median temperature reaches 27 degrees Celsius for three days in a row.

drought
Read alsoThe Hungarian drought is visible from space!

The Hungarian drought is visible from space!

drought

Almost half of the average rainfall is missing this year. Hungary has had its driest seven months since 1901. The drought situation is so severe that it is now visible from space.

The Időkép Facebook page has shared a photo that shows the severity of the situation. Between 10 August 2021 and 10 August 2022, Hungary turned completely yellow. Ten out of Hungary’s 12 water boards had to be put on water emergency alert.

The drought has caused record low water levels in many rivers and lakes. Agriculture is also suffering from the drought. Grassland is burning out and crop yields are low. There are more and more destructive fires.

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Hungarian govt sets up operative body to tackle drought emergency

Drought in Hungary.

The government has decided to set up an operative body to make proposals for central measures to tackle the impacts of the current droughts, the agriculture minister said on Thursday.

A statement from the ministry quoted István Nagy as quoting that nearly half of Europe was affected, while Hungary was facing a “drought of historical proportion”. In mid-July, the largest part of the country was hit by a serious drought, reducing this year’s wheat harvest by 25 percent, and completely destroying corn fields in most of central and eastern Hungary, Nagy said.

It added that a lack of rain over the past weeks was now threatening with a poor harvest in western parts of the country, too. In eastern Hungary, meadows have been burnt out, leaving the animal stock without grazing grounds and hay for the wintertime, the statement said.

The new body will “start working without delay to tackle the challenges before Hungary’s agriculture and help farmers manage difficulties”, Nagy said in the statement, pledging to assist farmers with “all possible means”.

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Budapest tourist ships in emergency due to low water levels

budapest danube buda

Some hotel ships are forced to dock in Bratislava (Pozsony), Esztergom and Komárom instead of Budapest due to the earlier than usual and sudden drop in the Danube water level. There is no panic, but the agencies serving the groups often have only a few hours to reschedule the programme in Hungary. Continue reading below for more details.

“At 4 PM on Wednesday afternoon, it became clear that, contrary to earlier plans, two of our Thursday groups would have to disembark in Komárno, and their boat could not continue. We had only a few hours to plan the bus, reschedule lunch, sightseeing and guided tours,” explains Katalin Sarlós, Managing Director of Svada Office, which serves passengers from German-speaking countries, with a telling example of why it takes a lot of extra work and a lot of flexibility from all partners to resolve the situation.

Asked how the 90-100 cm water level in the middle of the high season affects the hotel boats, the expert could not give a general answer, as the depth of draught and the “shape” of the vessel also determine how long it can sail in the water, writes turizmus.com. This is how two of their groups arrived unhindered in Budapest on Wednesday, while another two had to choose between a port in Komárno and a bus ride.

Will Budapest’s tourism take a blow?

“The water level is 256 centimetres at Bratislava and barely 100 at Budapest. It depends on the shipping company which scenario it uses to deal with this situation,” another hotel shipping expert tells the above source.

Larger companies with more ships are switching ships, i.e. unloading the luggage from the ship in Bratislava and transferring the guests by bus to a sister ship waiting in Budapest. Smaller companies typically have to make other, no less labour-intensive arrangements. They also bus the guests to the Budapest programmes after the ship has docked. In the case of Visegrád, Esztergom and Komárom, guests return to the ship by bus at the end of the day, while those arriving from Bratislava stay overnight.

Changing water levels

It is clear from the expert’s words that those involved in the hotel industry are not unfamiliar with the current phenomenon and are prepared for emergency. Every year, there are more or fewer days when a ship does not arrive at the planned port and the original programme has to be changed at the last minute. This year’s situation is different from previous years in that the low water yields that used to occur in August and September have now occurred in mid-July, and very suddenly. While warmth and low flows were obvious, no one expected such a rapid and dramatic change.

As a result, the ports of Esztergom, Komárom and Komárno are full of deep-draft vessels, and passengers forced to stop are being brought to Budapest by bus.

There are no such problems on the upper Danube, due to the water steps that ensure the navigability of the river, but the situation is even more critical towards the Black Sea. Companies have cancelled several downstream programmes for safety reasons, and many of those going upstream from the Iron Gate has cancelled stops in Hungary (e.g. Kalocsa) to ensure they can get their guests back to Passau.

While there is a loss, proportionally there are many more groups that eventually arrive in Budapest. There are no complaints about spending either, even if they do not necessarily use hotel services, the cruise series bring in significant revenue for restaurants, the Great Market Hall and other service providers.

Here is how Hungary helps farmers hit by drought

Heatwave Hungary drought farmers

Zsolt Feldman, state secretary at the agriculture ministry, on Friday had talks with representatives of insurance companies to ensure smooth procedures to indemnify farmers suffering damages due to droughts.

The ministry said in a statement that nearly half of Europe was being hit by unprecedented drought, including Hungary where over 550,000 hectares affected. Many further claims are expected in the coming weeks, the statement added. Providing quick compensation to farmers is “in the interest of the whole of society”, the statement quoted Feldman as saying. The official asked the insurers to have sufficient staff to assess incoming claims.

Meanwhile, the national water management directorate (OVF) said it was preparing a watering schedule for the country, and asked the disaster management authority to help prevent illegal removal of water from rivers and reservoirs. According to a statement from the OVF, the whole of eastern Hungary was hit by a drought due to an increasing heat wave and lack of rain.

Concerning actual operations, the OVF said ensuring the drinking water supply in Szolnok, in central-eastern Hungary, as well as the water necessary for the agriculture and the area’s ecology from the Tisza River and Lake Tisza. It said the situation called for “great discipline by users” because “unless they cooperate they will take the water available from each other”.

Water management authorities are focusing on the River Danube, and Balaton and Velence lakes, the statement said, adding that currently water was being pumped into the Soroksar branch of the Danube.

The water level in Lake Balaton was 86cm on Friday morning, 20cm lower than a year ago, the statement said, added that the difference was “not extraordinary”, the lake having seen lower levels “on dozens of occasions in the past 100 years”. The quality of the lake’s water is monitored every week, and the tests have not indicated any recent problems, the statement said.

The water in Lake Velence has been aerated every day since Wednesday. The level of the water was 67cm on Friday morning, a mere 4cm above the lake’s all-time low, the statement said, adding that a new record low was expected. It added, however, that “it may be unpleasant for bathers, but it is a natural phenomenon, the lake being the kind that occasionally dries out”.

New heat record in Hungary!

Record high temperature in Hungary

July 23 was the hottest on record in Hungary, according to the National Meteorological Service (OMSZ).

The mercury hit 41.5 C. in both Kiskunfélegyháza and Hódmezővásárhely, in southern Hungary, on Saturday, OMSZ said on Facebook. The highest temperature ever recorded in Hungary on July 23, before today, had been 39 C. in Bekessamson, in the south, and Felcsut, in the north.

Hungary’s all-time heat record of 41.9 C. was recorded on July 20, 2007 in Kiskunhalas, in the south.

A heat alert originally issued by the chief medical officer from Wednesday until Saturday midnight has been extended until midnight on Tuesday.

Heat
Read alsoRed alert: 40°C, water shortages, forest fires come to Hungary

Heat record might break today: red alert extended, lorry ban lifted

Heatwave Balaton water

The temperature is getting higher every day. Today even the heat record in Hungary can be broken. It is expected to be hotter than 40 °C in huge areas in Hungary.

Heat alert extended until Tues midnight

The chief medical officer has extended the current heat alert until midnight on Tuesday. The alert was originally issued from Wednesday until Saturday midnight. The heat alert is in force nationwide, the national public health service and the disaster management authority said on Friday.

Young children, the elderly and those with cardiovascular diseases should take particular precautions, the statement said. The heat alert comes with advice to drink plenty, avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm and to use skin protection.

The heat is forecast to intensify until Tuesday, topping 40 degrees in places.

Then, a cold front is expected to sweep the country from the north-west, bringing highs down to between 30-38 degrees Celsius generally, and between 27-29 degrees in the west.

Weekend lorry ban lifted due to hot weather

A weekend lorry ban on Hungarian roads will be suspended because of the hot weather, the Technology and Industry Ministry said on Friday. The ban was lifted automatically after the chief medical officer extended a heat alert, the ministry said.

Heat
Read alsoRed alert: 40°C, water shortages, forest fires come to Hungary

Red alert: 40°C, water shortages, forest fires come to Hungary

Heat

New heat records are expected for this weekend in Hungary. Daily temperatures can even reach 40°C in some parts of the country, with no hope for precipitation. As a result of the extreme weather, red code warning has been issued in the country. The heatwave alert is in effect from Thursday morning until Monday evening.

Red code alert

In the next few days, the daily average temperature will be 35°C in several parts of Hungary, with some places reaching 40°C on Saturday. Temperatures in many places will still be above 20°C at dawn. Due to the extreme weather conditions, „red code alert” has been introduced in the whole country, from 8 AM on Thursday until 8 PM on Monday. The purpose of the heatwave warning is to alert society to the extreme weather situation, as well as to protect and preserve life and health of those in need of assistance. During the special procedure, all social sector institutions, regardless of the type of care, the area covered and the number of places available, are obliged to receive homeless people arriving at their premises, reports the Hungarian news portal Szeretlek Magyarország.

Therefore, the Ministry of the Interior is asking everyone who encounters a homeless person in need of assistance due to the extreme weather conditions to call the regional dispatch service, where they can respond immediately to the call.

Measures for the weekend

Presumably, the record-breaking temperatures will cause massive drought, water shortages and natural fires in Hungary. As a result, several measures have been taken nationwide. During the heat wave, the Danube Regional Waterworks is calling for water conservation in several municipalities to ensure drinking water supply. At the same time, the lack of precipitation that has lasted for several weeks still goes on. In addition, the Danube water level continues to decrease and hydrological forecasts indicate that no precipitation is expected in the catchment area for the time being.

In Budapest, the institutions of the capital’s municipality help residents with drinking fountains, water distribution, intensive air conditioning of vehicles and extended opening hours of beaches.

The Ministry of Technology and Industry has decided to allow heavy goods vehicles to drive freely on inland roads on Saturday because of the heat warning. In case of an extension of the official measure, the lifting of the truck ban will automatically be extended to Sunday. Waiting in a hot cab can damage the health of professional drivers, significantly impairing their ability to concentrate after setting off. The suspension of the restriction is also justified in order to preserve the quality of the goods transported and to ensure that they reach their destination as quickly as possible, reports Szeretlek Magyarország.

The extreme weather conditions also cause several natural damages throughout Europe. As a result of record-breaking temperatures and the lack of rain, massive drought can be expected in Hungary, which is forecast to increase further by the end of the week. Ten of the twelve water management districts have already been declared under water emergency alert. Besides Mediterranean countries, forest fires may also occur in Hungary due to the high temperatures. All over the country – including the Buda Hills, the Pilis, the Visegrád Hills and the Gödöllő Hills -, fires are banned, even in designated fireplaces. In this emergency situation, the concerned areas are monitored with increased attention. Additionally, visitors are also asked to notify the authorities if they witness sign of fire in the natural areas.

Hungarian lowlands may also be affected by the fires. In the middle of the week, several hectares of the Hortobágy National Park were on fire. The fire spread so widely that road closures were necessary in the affected region. Firefighters used a great deal of effort to control the fire, reports Blikk.

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High ozone levels reported across Hungary

Heat Sun Sunset Nap Hőség Naplemente

A high concentration of ozone has been measured at 21 locations across Hungary, the national public health centre (NNK) told MTI on Thursday.

The NNK warned that people with chronic respiratory conditions could experience worsening symptoms, while children and the elderly could also be affected. According to the NNK, it is advisable to stay indoors during the hottest hours, while strong physical labour or sports outside should also be avoided.

The air quality in the country is not expected to improve in the next few days, the NNK said.

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Water providers gearing up for heat wave

heat record

Demand for drinking water has grown significantly, and water providers are gearing up to ensure constant availability, the Ministry of Technology and Industry (TIM) said on Sunday.

Tourist places and urban areas where the number of properties have grown exponentially in recent years are particularly challenging spots when it comes to water supply, the ministry wrote on Facebook. Around Lake Balaton, on an average summer day, the amount of water used comes to 90,000 cubic meters, and during a heat wave this can rise to 130,000 cubic meters per day, it said.

Water reservoirs have adequate reserves for now, but in the case of extreme weather, water can be supplied by tankers or bagged water will be delivered to households.

Tap water, the ministry noted, is one of the most regularly monitored products in Hungary, and it called on the public to drink tap water rather than bottled drinks.

The ministry called on residents not to run the tap to get cold water but to fill containers and place these in the fridge. Otherwise, rainwater or well water should be used for watering gardens if possible, it added.

Drought-in-Hungary-River-Tisza
Read alsoDroughts becoming more frequent in Hungary

New cold record set for July 17 in Hungary!

cold and black

A record cold temperature for this day in Hungary was broken early on Sunday in the northern village of Zabar, as the mercury dipped to 5.4 C, the National Meteorological Service said.

The previous record for this day was 5.5 degrees Celsius. The service said a heat wave is expected in the coming days, with daily lows around 10-21 degrees Celsius and daily highs above 35 degrees.

Cold record Hungary weather
Photo: FB
Drought-in-Hungary-River-Tisza
Read alsoDroughts becoming more frequent in Hungary

Droughts becoming more frequent in Hungary

Drought-in-Hungary-River-Tisza

Drought is affecting large parts of Hungary, the National Meteorological Service said in a Facebook post on Saturday, noting that droughts are becoming more frequent, with hotter summers and more intensive heat waves.

Last year was also dry in Hungary and the drought continued in 2022, the service said. The situation is worse in central parts of the Great Plain and areas east of the River Tisza.

Occasional droughts are part of Hungary’s climate, but “in recent decades summers have become significantly hotter and heat waves more frequent and more intensive…” the Meteorological Service said.

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Get prepared! Heatwave is coming again, bringing massive drought to Hungary

girls water heatwave

The temperature will increase to 35°C for the second part of this week and will even exceed 40°C next week. As a result, further agricultural damage can be expected this summer in Hungary.

After showers, thunderstorms and a slight temperature drop at the beginning of the week, we can expect an intense warm-up on Wednesday. Temperatures will rise to 25-32°C during the day. The weather will be mostly sunny, but in the eastern part of the country, clouds may build up and even bring light showers in the afternoon – reported by Időkép.

On Thursday, further warming is coming, bringing a heatwave to the country. Peak temperatures will be between 29 and 35°C. There will be no rain, but strong winds can be experienced in the central areas.

On Friday, the sunny weather will be interrupted by showers and occasional thunderstorms. Several places will experience strong, sometimes northerly winds. In the afternoon, 28-35°C can be expected – reported by the Hungarian news portal Szeretlek Magyarország.

However, not only humans suffer from the extreme heat and the drought it causes. The heatwave is also causing severe damage to Hungarian agriculture, especially in the eastern part of the country. This year’s rainfall distribution and the resulting field crops are medium to good in the Transdanubian region, but a devastating drought is raging in the Great Plain.

So far, 300,000 hectares of maize and 200,000 hectares of sunflowers have been destroyed by the severe drought, with no harvest left to be gathered. Farmers could have made an exceptionally good profit this year because of high prices, but the losses for these two crops currently reach EUR 981 million (~HUF 400 billion).

The barley harvest was completed with a national average of 4.5 tonnes per hectare, calculated by an average of 5 tonnes per hectare in the Transdanubian region and 2-3 tonnes per hectare in the Great Plain. Wheat is still being harvested, with a national average of between 3.5 and 4 tonnes per hectare. These figures are low compared to last years’ results when the national average fell between 4.5 and 5 tonnes.

The situation is particularly bad for autumn crops. So far, some 300,000 hectares of maize have dried out to such an extent that farmers cannot expect any valuable yields. The estimated loss is approximately 2.1 to 2.4 million tonnes. In the case of sunflowers, 200,000 hectares have been abandoned, which results in roughly 600,000 tonnes of loss – reported by the Hungarian news portal 24.hu.

Due to global trends, and especially the direct effects of the war, the prices of crops are particularly high this year, with maize currently costing at least EUR 294 (~ HUF 120,000) per tonne and sunflowers EUR 613 (~HUF 250,000) per tonne. As a result, even at a conservative estimate, farmers have lost EUR 981 million (~HUF 400 billion) on maize and sunflowers so far this year.

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We’ll show you how long the scorching heat will last in Hungary – forecast

Sup at the Roman beach

In the next few days, the weather will warm up significantly again. A stronger cold front will arrive on Tuesday night, triggering a cooling process.

Monday

There will be a lot of sunshine with increasing clouds from the northwest, so the sunshine will become more and more filtered. During the day, showers and thunderstorms are expected only in a few places in the western Transdanubian region, with a significant increase in precipitation from late evening.

Winds from the north and northwest will become stronger at times. Minimum temperatures will generally be between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius, but in cold-prone areas it could be a few degrees colder. Highs will be between 32 and 39 degrees with the northwest being the coolest, writes Kiderül.

Tuesday

At night, a cold front will arrive from the northwest, which will move over our country during the day, becoming patchy. In addition, there will be some sunny spells everywhere. At night, showers and thunderstorms can expected first in the Transdanubian region, then elsewhere during the day.

Winds from the north and northwest will increase in several places, becoming gusty around thunderstorms. Temperatures will rise from 15 to 23 degrees Celsius in the morning to between 27 and 39 degrees Celsius in the afternoon, with warmer weather in the lowlands and cooler in the northwest.

Wednesday

With generally few clouds during the day, there will be plenty of sunshine. Occasional showers and thunderstorms can be expected. Winds from the north and northwest will increase in many areas, becoming stronger at times. At dawn, it will be 14-21 degrees Celsius, in the afternoon, it will be 27-34 degrees.

Thursday

Clouds may increase in most parts of the country, with more sunshine in the east. Sporadic rain and showers are likely. Winds from the north will increase in several places. From 13 to 19 degrees Celsius in the morning, the air will warm up to 25 to 33 degrees in the afternoon. It will be cooler in the northwest and warmer in the east.

Friday

There will be partly to heavily cloudy skies. Scattered showers are likely. Winds from the north will increase in many places, becoming gusty here and there. The minimum temperature will be between 11 and 17 degrees Celsius, the maximum between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius.

Tram 2, Budapest
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Budapest in brutal heat – AC not working on buses, trams, trains?

Budapest is currently experiencing one of the most gruelling heat waves in years. In the brutal 37-40 degrees Celsius heat, travelling by public transport can often be a hellish experience. From barely working air conditioning to none at all, public transport is becoming a group sauna experience. Continue reading below for pedestrian accounts of the unbearable heat on BKK vehicles.

Budapest is heating up

Our perception of heat and the actual temperature around us is fundamentally influenced by how warm the surfaces around us are. If the air is hot, we should create or look for an environment where the surfaces are cooler than the air around us, and we will feel better, writes enbudapestem.hu.

Where there is little shade and many surfaces that heat up easily, a heat island is formed. The temperature of such an island will be much warmer than, for example, a forest. In most parts of Budapest, there is almost no grassland, with green areas mainly on the outskirts of the capital. To ensure that Budapest remains a liveable place for decades to come, we must work on reducing the effects of urban heat islands at all costs. This includes more green spaces in the downtown districts of Budapest.

Pedestrian accounts

An older married couple complained that the heat restricts their journey through the city. “We often take bus line 99, but the AC barely works onboard. It is simply not worth it,” comments the husband. “I once had to get off the bus, the air was just that unbearable,” says the wife. In fact, temperatures on bus 99 can go up to 31.7 degrees Celsius, reports Blikk. The couple must find shelter against the heat. They enjoy the 25 degrees Celsius climate of an M4 metro station though.

On trams 4 and 6, passengers are subjected to an uncomfortable 29.6 degrees Celsius. But one public transport service rivals all others in terms of how hot it is onboard. On Budapest HÉV, commuter rail lines, there is a scorching 35 degrees Celsius. These train cars are long overdue for a replacement, seeing as none of them was designed with air conditioning. Even with open windows, there is barely any air passing through the vehicle.

BKK has yet to publicly announce how many of its vehicles have no air conditioning. On a brighter note, MÁV’s press department came forth with their answer. 67 percent of their suburban trains and 42 percent of their total train cars do have working air conditioning.