As I was saving for posterity the record-breaking heatwave which hit central Europe in late June 2026, I sadly got it right it would not be the only one this summer. In Poland it was the second heatwave this summer, in most parts of Europe - fourth. And the fifth one is in the offing in France and in the UK.
Thursday,
16 July 2026
I get external roller shutters installed outside my windows facing north-east.
Glad I hadn't put it back until next summer season, as they will prove to serve
as a brilliant shield from heat.
Thursday,
30 July 2026
This heatwave commences on Thursday too, with a lovely pre-dawn low of +15C.
Before the onset of high temperature I managed to cool the dwelling down to
+21C, which is a decent result, given walls have accumulated a lot of heat.
Afternoon high of +31C is still tolerable, especially with wind gusts up to 30
km/h.
Friday, 31
July 2026
The night wasn't that lovely, since temperature did not drop below +20C,
actually with a low of exactly +20.0C it ranked as a tropical night, a fifth
one this year (nine tropical nights were endured in Warsaw in summer 2019, the
record is likely to be broken this year).
The afternoon high of +33C was markedly lower than forecasts of +36C. Moderate
cloud cover has not let the air warm up. Nevertheless, it does not feel nice. I
return home after a beer or three in town around 10 p.m. and the air remains
sultry, yet Ursynów is noticeably less warm than the city centre.
Saturday, 1
August 2026
A short, intense downpour hit Warsaw overnight. Cloud cover did not let the
heat get released into the skies. Consequently, night-time low reached +21.3C
(sixth tropical night this summer). Air in the morning is horridly humid. In
the afternoon temperature climbs to +31C, with heat index even higher (air
humidity > 50%). After 3:00 p.m. a thunderstorm hits Warsaw. It does not
bring the temperature much down, but air humidity is even higher. Two next
showers in the evening.
Sunday, 2
August 2026
Finally a cooler morning with a low of +17C, but air humidity close to 100%.
The entire day brings some relief from the heat, as temperature does not rise
above +25C, giving some time to brace for the second blow of this heatwave.
My eyes in the meantime are on Hungary. The country's core nuclear power plant, Paks, is running below its full capacity due to low level of Danube and consequent deficiency of water to cool the bloc. A full shutdown seems inevitable. Hungary is in the focal point of the current heatwave. Temperatures in Budapest reached daytime highs in excess of +35C each day since 30 July. The climax of the scorching episode is forecast for 5 August, with high above +40C and low of +24C. The country faces a threat of paralysis amid a deadly heat. Emergency situation is also in neighbouring Romania, where power plant's cooling unit is brought to a halt by deficiency of water. Since grids in the region are interconnected, several countries, including Poland may face power outages. In Poland such incidences have not taken place since August 2015.
Monday, 3
August 2026
The night and early morning were supposed to be brisk. In fact, with accursed
cloud cover, temperature did not drop below +18C with high air humidity. During
the working week Warsaw will need to endure at least one day-time high above
+35C. Today, as clouds did not fade during the day, temperature reached only
+29.5C. In the afternoon it felt astonishingly comfortable, as the wind took
the gloss of the heat. After sunset an electrical thunderstorm with
moderate rainfall comes over Warsaw.
During the last harsh winter I began counting down days until March (when snow and frost were likely to ease off). Time to start counting down days until September, when at least tropical nights are unlikely.
Tuesday, 4
August 2026
One more night-time rain has passed over the capital. With a low of +19.9C the
night does not formally rank as tropical, but given air humidity close to 90%,
the morning is anything, but enjoyable. During the day temperature rises to
+31C, however with air humidity near 50%. Sultry. In southern Poland day-time
highs reach +37C.
The grids in Hungary and Romania have not yet collapsed, as large industrial off-takers have cut down on or halted manufacturing. With effects of drought being felt for weeks to come, the energy-saving measures will remain in place after the heatwave peters out.
Wednesday,
5 August 2026
The night was a bloody hell. With clouds in place, temperature did not decline
below +22C (seventh tropical night this year). Past 7:00 it was already +24C
and vapour was hanging in the air. Warnings of record-breaking heat have not
materialised in Warsaw. Day-time high of +35.7C is over one Celsius degree
short of Poland's capital August all-time high (+37.0C on 8 August 2013). But
in Kozienice, less than 100 km south of Warsaw, temperature climbs to +38.8C.
Many spots in southern Poland today broke their records of maximum temperature,
yet the fresh (38 days old) countrywide heat record remains untouched.
Inside: +25C, but with air humidity of 70%, already uncomfortable.
In Austria and Slovakia temperatures rose above +41C for the first time in history.
The Paks nuclear power plant in Hungary is shut down. Grids in several countries south of Poland, i.e. Hungary, Romania and Moldova are under pressure. Blackouts are averted thanks to decreased demand from large manufacturing plants. Economic growth has led to the global warming. Now the global warming tapers the economic growth.
Thursday, 6
August
The eight tropical night this summer. The worst part of the morning is wearing
a suit and getting with a suitcase and a bag to a car parked outside (+24C and
sultry air at that moment). I set off from home for a two-day business trip,
firstly to Podlasie, then directly from there, to Podhale. The
entire trip, 1,300 kilometres, taken by car (hybrid Toyotas do not emit little
CO2 in motorway driving), thus feeling guilty of contributing to the hell which
we are enduring.
Forecasts of cold front bringing abundant rainfall and relief from the heat in
the early afternoon in Warsaw have not materialised. In Podlasie
temperature reached +35C (according to car thermometer, but in line with
official readings). After a meeting with a client I stopped by at a petrol
station to swap suit for shorts and t-shirt. On my way to Kraków I
encountered small hail. I stopped over for a much-belated lunch somewhere
beyond Grójec and temperature out there was (according to car thermometer)
+37C. Somewhere close to Kielce the highest reading was +39C. Aircon in
the car did its job well, but in a KFC restaurant despite aircon running at
full blast, it kept the interior at some +25C. Efficiency of aircon in my hotel
room seems insufficient.
Friday, 7
August 2026
The aircon in my hotel room produced more noise than cold air overnight. Kraków
needs to get through a tropical night, during which I switched off the aircon
fuse and opened the window. In Warsaw morning rainfall sends temperature below
gently +20C. Markedly below +30C during the day. Some proper relief from the
heat due over the weekend.
So far there have been 16 hot (maximum temperature above +30C) days this year
in the capital of Poland (vs. record-high number of 24 in 2015 and 2024), but
the summer has not run out. Tomorrow’s high is forecast to be above +30C, but it
will be a one-day incidence of heat. Counting down days until autumn...
