After a brief spell of cooler weather, extreme heat is set to return to Slovakia. Temperatures will begin rising rapidly in the coming days, and by the end of the week they could approach 40°C in the southwest of the country. Forecasters warn that the upcoming heatwave could become one of the longest of the summer.
The first signs of warming will appear on Tuesday, when very warm tropical air begins moving into Slovakia from the southwest. By Wednesday, July 29, daytime temperatures are expected to reach 30–35°C, with the heat intensifying from Friday, July 31.
The highest temperatures are expected in southwestern Slovakia, where temperatures could approach 40°C in some areas. According to current forecasts, the heatwave could last considerably longer than the previous one in June. Elevated temperatures may persist until around August 10. However, experts stress that forecasts this far ahead remain uncertain and may still change.
Why Slovakia Could Again Become One of Europe’s Hottest Regions
At the peak of the heatwave, Slovakia and neighboring parts of Central Europe could become some of the hottest areas on the continent. One of the reasons is the geography of the Carpathian Basin, a low-lying area surrounded by mountains.
Hot air can accumulate easily in the basin and, under persistent high-pressure conditions, remains relatively stagnant. Clear skies and intense solar radiation provide additional heating.
Dry soil makes the situation even worse. When there is little moisture available, less solar energy is used to evaporate water, meaning more heat goes directly into warming the ground and the air above it. As a result, the Danubian Lowland and Eastern Slovak Lowland can become hotter during extreme heat than some parts of southern Europe.
Heat, Drought and Wildfire Risk
According to Pecho, the problem is not limited to high temperatures. Several climate-related risks are occurring simultaneously in Central Europe: extreme heat, drought and an increased risk of wildfires.
Dry soil combined with high temperatures, dry air and wind creates particularly favorable conditions for fires to spread. The most difficult situation is expected in southern Slovakia, particularly in the western and eastern parts of the country, although central regions will also face elevated risks.
Major cities face an additional problem: the heat is intensified by the urban heat island effect. Asphalt, concrete and other artificial surfaces absorb solar energy and then release it back into the surrounding environment. This can make cities significantly hotter than nearby rural areas.
According to the climatologist, the difference in surface temperatures between Bratislava’s most overheated areas, such as Ružinov and the Old Town, and the greener Devín can reach almost 10°C. The difference in actual air temperature is smaller, usually around 2–5°C, but it is particularly noticeable at night.
Summer Has Already Broken a Temperature Record
The upcoming heatwave will not be the first extreme weather episode this summer. At the end of June, Slovakia experienced one of the strongest heatwaves in the history of meteorological observations. On June 30, temperatures reached 41.3°C in Kamenica nad Hronom, setting Slovakia’s new absolute temperature record.
The heat also placed significant pressure on the healthcare system. Between June 26 and 28, 308 people required medical assistance because of high temperatures, while 171 were hospitalized.
Climate change is reflected not only in rising maximum temperatures. Heatwaves are becoming longer, starting earlier and producing more tropical nights. Extremely warm nights can be particularly dangerous to human health because they prevent the body from recovering from daytime heat.
The climatologists expect the current heatwave will likely be one of the strongest of the summer, but not the last. Slovakia could experience another one or two similar episodes in August.
