Czech news in brief for September 9: Wednesday's top morning headlines

Record-breaking September heat is giving way to a sharply divided Wednesday forecast, with temperatures ranging from autumnal in the west to tropical in the east. Elsewhere, Czech winemakers are counting the cost of drought, and Prague offers a free day of dyslexia support. Good morning, here's your Wednesday headline mix.

Temperature records for Sept. 8 were broken at 127 of 171 long-running weather stations across Czechia Tuesday, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. The highest temperature reached 33.5 degrees Celsius in Brod nad Dyjí, Dyjákovice, and Doksany.

What’s next: Wednesday will bring sharp regional differences, with highs of only around 18 degrees in western Czechia but potentially above 30 in the east. Showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected to spread across Bohemia.

An electrical fault caused a major fire that destroyed a Lidl supermarket in Kladno, firefighters said Tuesday evening. Preliminary damage is estimated at CZK 120 million. No injuries were reported, though 53 people were temporarily evacuated from nearby accommodation.

Key details: Firefighters remained at the site into the evening, dismantling parts of the building and extinguishing hidden hotspots. The blaze triggered the third-highest fire alert level before being brought under control early Monday morning.

Police detained a man who displayed a “Z” symbol, used as a pro-war emblem supporting the invasion of Ukraine, at a Communist Party demonstration in Prague’s Malostranské náměstí on Saturday. He is suspected of a criminal offense related to denying, questioning, approving, or justifying genocide and could face up to three years in prison.

What happens next: Prague police extremism and terrorism investigators are handling the case through expedited proceedings, which are expected to take 14 days. Around 200 people attended the demonstration.

Czech winemakers expect this year’s grape harvest to be about one-third below the long-term average after prolonged dry weather reduced yields. Grapes also contain less juice, meaning the amount of wine produced from the harvest is expected to be lower.

What to expect: Grape quality remains good despite the smaller crop, with winemakers particularly optimistic about fuller-bodied red wines. Most harvesting is expected to finish by the end of September as varieties are ripening earlier.

Prague’s Municipal Library will host the 17th annual Dyslexia Day on Wednesday, Sept. 9, offering free activities and support for children and adults with dyslexia, as well as parents, teachers and schools. The program runs from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

What’s on: Visitors can attend creative workshops, professional consultations and personal talks, alongside a screening of The Gift of Dyslexia. Admission is free, and no confirmed dyslexia diagnosis is required to participate.