Records broken: Czech Republic hits 41.9 C, Poland reaches 40.5 C

The Czech Republic and Poland endured record-breaking heat over the weekend, shattering previous temperature highs. In the Central Bohemian region of the Czech Republic, temperatures climbed from 40.9 degrees Celsius on Saturday to a staggering 41.9 degrees Celsius by Sunday afternoon.

This extreme heat prompted organizers in the Czech Republic to cancel or adapt various events, including concerts and horse races. Some areas were equipped with umbrellas and misting systems to provide relief. In Doksany, a town near Prague, residents are accustomed to the heat, with the mayor noting the presence of greenery and a nearby river as mitigating factors, though firefighters provided temporary cooling with water sprays.

In Poland, the town of Słubice, located on the Oder River near the German border, recorded 40.5 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous national record of 40.2 degrees Celsius set in 1921. Toruń also registered a high of 40.3 degrees Celsius.

The unusual heatwave caused considerable problems for Poland's railway system. Several lines experienced disruptions due to network failures or locomotive malfunctions, leaving passengers stranded on trains without air conditioning. Nearly 400 passengers were evacuated from two trains near Warsaw on the route between Krakow and Olsztyn, prompting Polish Railways to convene a crisis staff meeting.

Meteorologists predict that storms moving in from the west may bring some relief on Monday, but tropical nights are expected, with temperatures potentially remaining around 29 degrees Celsius overnight.