Dangerous heat to build across eastern Europe, Balkan Peninsula into this weekend

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather meteorologist

August 9,2017, 7:31:31AM,EDT

 

 

On the heels of a deadly heat wave last week, another surge of heat will build across eastern Europe and the Balkan Peninsula this week.
This expansive heat wave will affect millions of people from the Mediterranean to Poland and Belarus.
“High pressure centered over western Asia will pump heat all the way from the Mediterranean Sea into the Baltic states,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards.

Temperatures will begin to climb from Italy to Poland and Romania on Wednesday, with highs surpassing 38 C (100 F) in parts of Hungary, Croatia and Serbia.
Dangerous heat will also be felt across central Italy and Albania. The high temperature could reach 41-42 C (107 F) in Tirana, Albania.
“Anyone planning on being outdoors will need to stay hydrated and limit time in direct sunshine to reduce the risk for heat-related illness,” said Richards.

A heatwave with an extreme temperatures of up to 42 Celsius (107.6 F) affected Romania last week and more heat is expected. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Another day of scorching heat will follow on Thursday, focused from central Italy into the northern and western Balkans.
The heat will build farther north with temperatures reaching 33 C (92 F) in Warsaw, Poland.
Showers and thunderstorms will bring an end to the heat from Italy into Slovenia, Croatia and western Hungary on Friday, but will introduce the risk for flash flooding.
Some of these same areas endured severe thunderstorms that caused significant damage on Sunday and Monday.

Children cool themselves in a fountain in a park, in Athens on Monday, Aug. 5,2017. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Farther east, the intense heat will continue from Greece northward through eastern Poland, Belarus and Ukraine on Friday. Temperatures will again surpass 38 C (100 F) in the hottest locations across the Balkans.
The threat for heavy thunderstorms and flooding will advance eastward on Saturday, ending the heat wave from Poland to Serbia and Albania.
The dangerous heat will continue on Saturday from Bulgaria and Romania into Ukraine.
Showers and thunderstorms will drench these areas on Sunday, finally ending the heat wave.
RELATED:
Europe Weather Center
Detailed Tirana, Albana weather forecast
Detailed Warsaw, Poland weather forecast
The cooler air that plunges across the Balkan Peninsula later this week will bring much needed relief from two weeks of grueling heat across the region.
Temperatures will be close to normal through the middle of next week before temperatures again rise several degrees above normal late next week.