Meteorologist Lajda Porja, invited this Saturday on Euronews Weekend with Alba Xhani, spoke about weather developments, stressing that Albania and all of Europe are facing a strong heatwave that has brought record temperatures.
According to her, the heat dome that covered the European continent has now shifted toward the Balkans, while in Albania and most of the region at least three very hot days are expected: Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
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She explained that, although values as extreme as those recorded in Spain or southern France are not expected, where temperatures reached as high as 43 degrees, the thermometer is still forecast to climb to 40 degrees today. This figure is expected to be recorded in three or four counties, specifically in the areas of Shkodra and Koplik, as well as in Berat, Ura Vajgurore, Cërrik, Belsh and Elbasan, while Gjirokastra is not being ruled out either.
In the main cities and almost across the entire western lowlands, temperatures will range from 38 to 39 degrees. Along the coastline, 36 to 37 degrees are expected, while mountainous areas will also experience high temperatures, especially in the northeast. In Dibër County, the thermometer is expected to reach 32-33 degrees, in Kukës 34 degrees, while the southeast, namely Korçë County, will be slightly cooler.
The weekend and Monday will be characterized by dry weather, with no rainfall across the entire territory. Porja stressed that the heat will feel even heavier, especially on Sunday and Monday, due to the gradual increase in humidity, which makes the weather more stifling.
A slight easing of this heatwave is expected to occur on Tuesday. Only on that day is a drop in temperatures of at least 2 to 3 degrees forecast, while in some areas it could be as much as 4 degrees, bringing the thermometer down from 40 to around 37-38 degrees. According to her, the situation will continue to improve in the middle of next week, when on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, as well as for three to four days, the weather will be somewhat cooler compared with the current days.
However, she stressed that this does not mean the country will experience truly cool temperatures, since July is officially beginning, a traditionally hot month. According to the forecast, African air masses are expected to activate frequently, bringing many days with temperatures of 38-39 degrees, while from mid-July there may be days when the thermometer climbs even higher.
Porja recalled that a very hot summer had been forecast earlier, one that began as early as the end of May with high temperatures and the breaking of historical records. She mentioned that the historical May record has been broken in the United Kingdom, while unprecedented temperatures for the month of June have also been recorded in Portugal and Spain. Meanwhile, a considerable number of heat-related fatalities has also been reported in France and Spain.
In conclusion, she underlined that temperatures of 40 or 41 degrees have not usually been seen in Albanian territory this early in June, as these values are generally recorded in July or at the beginning of August.
