Central and Eastern Europe are grappling with an intense heatwave that has brought unprecedented temperatures, major wildfires and severe drought. These conditions have increased pressure on energy supplies, water reserves and citizens’ daily lives.
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New records have been set in countries such as Slovakia, Austria and Hungary, while authorities say climate change is making extreme conditions even more severe.
Slovakia’s hydrometeorological agency announced that the temperature in Dolné Plachtince reached 42 degrees Celsius. This is considered one of the highest temperatures ever recorded in the country.
Historic readings were also recorded in Austria, where the temperature reached 41.2 degrees Celsius. According to experts, the combination of extreme heat, drought and winds is increasing the risk of wildfires breaking out.
A lack of rainfall and prolonged high temperatures have fueled the spread of fires in several European countries.
Data from the European Forest Fire Information System show that, since the beginning of the year, fires have burned around 500,000 hectares of land in the European Union. Most of the burned areas are in Spain and France.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, fires have swept through around 292,000 hectares.
Experts say weather conditions that help fires spread have reached record levels for this time of year.
In the Czech Republic, the fire risk exceeded the previous record by more than 50%, while in Slovakia it was around 32% higher.
The effects of the heat and drought have also been felt in energy production. Due to extremely low water levels in the Vistula River, Polish authorities temporarily suspended operations at two coal-fired power plants, Kozienice and Połaniec.
Insufficient water prevented the plants’ cooling systems from operating, temporarily removing approximately 1.3 gigawatts of capacity from Poland’s power grid.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged employers to protect workers during extreme temperatures by providing cool spaces and drinking water.
Polish environmental experts point out that power plants contributing to climate change are increasingly facing the effects of this phenomenon.
The prolonged drought has also led to a significant decline in water levels in Europe’s major rivers.
The level of the Danube has raised concerns in Hungary, where authorities are monitoring the water supply and the operation of power plants.
In Germany, falling water levels in the Rhine have forced commercial vessels to carry smaller loads than usual.
Also in Germany, climate activists protested outside the chancellery and called for stronger action to limit the use of fossil fuels.
The latest estimates from the Robert Koch Institute show that high temperatures have claimed the lives of around 11,900 people in Germany this summer.
According to the activists’ warning, extreme heat should not be accepted as a normal feature of the summer season.
Climate data indicate that 2026 is on track to rank among the hottest years ever recorded worldwide.
In Europe, July this year has been described as one of the hottest months on record, surpassing previous records as well.
Meteorologists say the heatwave could continue in the coming weeks. No significant shift in weather conditions is forecast before the middle of the month.
In the face of the climate crisis, experts consider reducing fossil fuel use and increasing investment in renewable energy sources essential, along with measures to protect water reserves.
