Slovakia hits temperature record for second day running
Slovakia set an all-time temperature high for the second day running, recording 42.2C in a southern village, the national weather agency said, as a heatwave gripped central Europe.
Slovakia has recorded its highest temperature ever for the second consecutive day, reaching a scorching 42.2C in the southern village of Dolne Plachtince. This surpasses the previous record of 41.4C set just the day before, according to the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU). The extreme heatwave is part of an unprecedented spell of scorching temperatures and minimal rainfall across central Europe.
In fact, Slovakia has already experienced the highest temperatures twice this June. Neighboring Austria has also faced record-breaking heat this week, with similar occurrences in other countries such as Serbia. Experts attribute the intensification of drought across Europe to climate change, with the scorching weather driving the exceptionally dry conditions.
This extended period of extreme heat and drought has fueled wildfires in several nations, including Serbia. In one tragic incident, a man lost his life in a village near Belgrade after accidentally igniting a fire near his home. Authorities in Serbia are working diligently to control the flames, employing water-bombing aircraft to combat the fires in challenging terrains.
Meanwhile, a large forest fire continues to ravage the Ibar valley in central Serbia, with relentless efforts by fire crews to protect nearby villages. Smoke from the inferno has been visible from the nearby city. In Albania, officials have managed to contain numerous fires, although a few forced evacuations. Throughout the region, extreme fire danger warnings are in effect.
Serbian police emphasized the grave consequences of reckless behavior, urging citizens to exercise extreme caution. The relentless heat has also exacerbated drought conditions across much of Europe, causing the Danube's water levels to plummet to record lows. This has significantly impacted hydropower generation and oil imports via the river, with the river's water level at the Bezdan monitoring station continuing to decline since its record-low level last week.
Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
