Hungary set a new absolute maximum temperature record of 42.0 degrees Celsius on June 30, according to a study by HungaroMet Zrt. The record was registered at 15:00 at the station in Szécsény, along the Ipoly river, surpassing the previous national record of 41.9 degrees Celsius set in Kiskunhalas on July 20, 2007, by 0.1 degrees.
How a Heat Dome Formed Over Europe
The record-breaking heat began with the convergence of two hot zones in the West Sahara and the region of the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. According to HungaroMet Zrt., the Arabian air mass moved faster than the Saharan one, catching up to it and creating a particularly strong “heat core” in West Africa.
A shallow cyclone near Morocco diverted a portion of this Saharan air toward Europe on June 16. This air mass reached Spain on June 18 and moved north, strengthening an anticyclone centered over France. Strong sunshine prevented the air from cooling, resulting in the formation of a “heat dome.”
The Path to the 42-Degree Record
The anticyclone and heat dome migrated east through Germany toward the Carpathian Basin. This caused the core of the African heatwave to arrive in Hungary from the northwest on June 27, rather than the typical southwestern direction.
Temperatures rose steadily throughout the final week of June. HungaroMet Zrt. data shows that by June 26, several areas exceeded 37 degrees Celsius. This climbed to 39 degrees on June 27 and over 40 degrees on June 28. On June 29, Aszód recorded 41.8 degrees, narrowly missing the 2007 record.
The Final Temperature Spike in Szécsény
On June 30, the anticyclone began to weaken. Cooler air from the Vienna Basin flowed into the Transdanubia region overnight, keeping temperatures there below 40 degrees. East of the Danube, instability led to thunderstorms that generally kept temperatures near 41 degrees.
The record-breaking jump occurred rapidly at the Szécsény station. After a nearby thunderstorm cloud provided temporary shade, the temperature rose from 40.3 to 42.0 degrees Celsius within 10 minutes. HungaroMet Zrt. analysis suggests the dissipating thunderstorm played a role, as air warming within the storm’s drying downdraft zone likely provided the final push to reach 42 degrees.
Potential Atmospheric Scenarios
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the absolute temperature record broken?
The record was broken at the weather station in Szécsény, located along the Ipoly river.
What was the previous national temperature record?
The previous record was 41.9 degrees Celsius, measured in Kiskunhalas on July 20, 2007.
Why did the temperature jump so quickly on June 30?
According to the analysis, a dissipating thunderstorm likely contributed, with air warming in the storm’s drying downdraft zone causing the temperature to rise from 40.3 to 42.0 degrees in 10 minutes.
