Czech Republic Faces New Heat Wave, Wildfire Risk Peaks

Forecasters expect temperatures to climb past 35°C on Thursday, with things getting even more intense on Friday as the mercury could edge close to 40°C. That's when the heat wave is expected to reach its peak, according to the country's meteorological service. Given how dry conditions already are, officials have raised wildfire risk warnings to their highest level across most of the country, cautioning that the combination of heat and drought creates ideal conditions for fires to spread quickly and cover large areas.

A Summer of Repeated Extremes
This latest hot spell arrives just a month after Europe went through a historic June heat wave that broke all-time temperature records in multiple countries. The Czech Republic was no exception. During that stretch, the village of Doksany in the northwest recorded the country's highest temperature ever, 41.9°C, surpassing the previous national record of 40.4°C, which had stood since 2012.

Meteorologists say seeing this kind of extreme heat return so soon is genuinely unusual. Officials noted that a year ago, hardly any expert would have predicted the country would hit 40°C this summer, let alone twice in the same season, something nobody would have wagered on. They summed it up simply, calling this an exceptionally hot summer overall.

Little Relief Even at Night
There's a small window of relief coming, though it won't last. Temperatures are expected to dip slightly over the weekend, settling around 30°C, before climbing again early next week, with daytime highs once more approaching 35°C.

Even after dark, there won't be much of a break. Meteorologists are warning of tropical nights, where temperatures stay above 20°C, expected to persist for several days in a row across much of the country. Scientists broadly agree that this pattern of intensifying heat across Europe is being driven by human-caused climate change.