Central Europe is currently experiencing a severe and unprecedented heatwave, with record-breaking temperatures causing widespread disruption to energy systems, transport, and daily life. In Slovakia, the southern village of Dolne Plachtince recorded a searing 42.2 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday, a new national record according to the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU). The extreme heat has led to critically low water levels in the Danube River, Europe’s second-longest, forcing the country’s only nuclear power plant to operate at just 80 percent of its capacity. The situation is even more acute in neighboring Hungary, where Budapest recorded its hottest overnight temperature ever on Wednesday, with the mercury only dipping to 28C (82.4F). Hungary’s sole nuclear power plant, which typically supplies about half of the nation’s electricity, has been drastically impacted, now running at a mere 10 percent of its capacity due to the river’s diminished flow.
The heatwave has also sparked devastating wildfires across the Balkan region. Serbia is battling blazes near the settlements of Cardak and Sumarak in the Deliblatska Pescara area, where villagers have been asked to evacuate as a precaution. Strong winds on Friday have complicated firefighting efforts, while neighboring Montenegro is also tackling fires near the town of Cetinje and other locations along the Adriatic coast. In Italy, authorities have placed all 27 major cities on the highest heat alert for the first time this year, advising residents to avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 6pm. The Italian health ministry reports that at least four people, including a 19-year-old tomato picker, are believed to have died in recent days due to the extreme conditions. Meanwhile, Germany is facing a worsening drought, with declining water levels in the Danube and Rhine rivers forcing companies to shift cargo transport from ships to roads, leading to reduced goods movement and rising prices.
The extreme weather is not confined to continental Europe, as the UK is bracing for another spell of intense heat next week, with temperatures potentially reaching 36C (97F) in parts of south-east England. The country is already experiencing severe drought conditions, with more than half of England and all of Wales officially in drought status. The Environment Agency reports seven consecutive weeks of rainfall below 10 millimeters, raising fears that more areas could fall into drought status in the coming days. This summer has seen thousands of excess deaths across Europe due to a series of heatwaves, and scientists are warning that such extreme summer heat is becoming increasingly common as the global climate warms. Europe is warming faster than any other continent, at twice the global average rate, and experts caution that much of the continent’s infrastructure was not designed to withstand these unprecedented temperatures, highlighting the urgent need for adaptation and resilience measures.
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