The most intense heatwave of the year is underway across southeastern Europe, with the highest temperatures between 42 to nearly 45 °C recorded from south Italy across Greece to western Turkey over the last few days. As we head into early August, the heatwave is expected to intensify even more and may challenge the European highest temperature ever recorded. Monday or Tuesday could both peak around +47 °C. Dangerous wildfire threat has developed over Turkey, parts of Greece and Sicily.
While July was very hot across the southern and southeastern parts of the European continent, the month ended with extreme heat this week and continued to increase over the weekend. The worst heat has developed across southern Italy, Greece, and Turkey, as well are surrounding countries Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, southern Serbia, and Bulgaria.
Temperatures were gradually increasing after Tuesday as an intense heatwave began under the strengthening upper High over the Mediterranean and the Balkan peninsula. So far, the observed maximum temperatures were up to nearly 45 °C, being the hottest this weekend.
As we are heading into the first week of August, the heatwave is, believe it or not, forecast to increase further. Seriously. The forecasted maximum temperatures across parts of the southern Balkan peninsula are expected to climb very close to the all-time European heat record from Monday to Thursday.
