Dangerous Heat Erased From Warsaw to Belgrade

By Adam Douty, Meteorologist

August 17,2015; 8:30PM,EDT

 

 

Dangerous heat across eastern Europe has finally come to an end as showers and thunderstorms continue to bring much-needed relief to the region.
The ridge of high pressure that was centered over eastern Europe last week has been replaced by a storm system that will bring widespread showers and thunderstorms from Germany into the Balkan Peninsula into the middle of the week.
Residents from Warsaw to Belgrade and Bucharest felt temperatures soaring 7 to 11 degrees Celsius (15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal last week. Highs of 23 C (73 F) in Warsaw, 28 C (83 F) in Belgrade and 30 C (86 F) in Bucharest are more common this time of year.

Weather Outlook For Europe

In Warsaw, the temperature soared above 29 C (84 F ) for 15 straight days this month; however, that temperature will not be reached again this week as much cooler air builds in from the north.
"During this recent heat wave, Warsaw set a new all-time August high temperature record when the temperature peaked at 36.6 C (97.9 F)," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Eric Leister. The previous record was 36.4 C (97.5 F) from August 1994, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
Warsaw also experienced nine consecutive days with a high temperature of 32.2 C (90 F) or higher; this is a stretch of intense heat the city has not dealt with since the 1994 heat wave that spanned late July to the start of August.
High temperatures will range from 21-26 C (70-78 F) through Saturday with largely dry weather, a pleasant change from what was seen the first half of the month.
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Temperatures this week will actually be below normal in Budapest, Bucharest, Prague and Belgrade as the heat is erased.
The return of stormy weather, however, could mean that those with outdoor plans may still face disruptions this week. Instead of worrying about suffering from heat exhaustion, residents will instead have to stay alert for lightning strikes and downpours from thunderstorms.

The thunderstorms will be heavy enough to trigger flash flooding, especially in low-lying and poor-drainage areas. Locally gusty thunderstorms may erupt daily as the slow moving storm system remains over eastern Europe.
Heat relief is not the only advantage to the showers and thunderstorms. Much of eastern Europe is suffering from a rainfall shortage this year, which has become worse over the summer.
Since June 1, Warsaw has received less than half of the normal (181 mm) 7.12 inches of rain. A total of (59 mm) 2.33 inches of rain has fallen in Belgrade during the same time, which is around 35 percent of normal. While Belgrade will receive needed rainfall this week, Warsaw will likely remain dry.
Meteorologist Eric Leister contributed to this story.