Poland breaks its national heat record amid European heatwave

Poland may have recorded its highest temperature in the country’s meteorological history, with a weather station in Słubice reaching 40.5°C (104.9°F) as an intense heatwave continues across Europe, the national weather service said.

IMGW-PIB, Poland’s meteorological institute, said the reading was recorded at its synoptic station in Słubice, a town in western Poland on the border with Germany. The value is based on operational and telemetry data and remains subject to verification.

If confirmed, the temperature would surpass Poland’s official heat record of 39.5°C (103.1°F), which was also recorded in Słubice on July 30, 1994. It would also exceed a historical reading of 40.2°C (104.4°F) recorded in Prószków on July 29, 1921.

The record came as a very hot air mass remains over Poland, bringing heat warnings to many parts of the country. Temperatures on Sunday were forecast to reach 35 to 39°C (95 to 102°F) across much of western, central and southern Poland.

Forecasters said the hottest conditions were expected in western regions, including Greater Poland and Lubusz, where temperatures were forecast to reach up to 39°C (102°F). Warsaw was forecast to reach 37°C (99°F), while Kraków, Katowice and Wrocław were expected to climb to around 36°C (97°F).

The possible record in Poland comes as a major heatwave continues to affect parts of Europe. Germany provisionally broke its national heat record over the weekend with a reading of 41.3°C (106.3°F), while the Netherlands issued its first-ever code red warning for extreme heat. Records have also been broken in France, the United Kingdom and Spain.