European heat dome hits Czechia: When will the scorching weather end?

Officials are urging the public to brace for a weekend of extreme weather as a massive "heat dome" currently scorching western Europe tracks toward central Europe, bringing predicted daytime highs of up to 39°C.

The meteorological phenomenon, which traps hot air like a lid on a pot, has already triggered red alerts across France, Spain, and Italy.

Authorities in those countries have suspended school classes, restricted afternoon outdoor activities, and banned public alcohol consumption to prevent severe dehydration and heat stroke.

While Czechia is currently experiencing a reprieve due to cooler air flowing from the front of the high-pressure system, forecasters warn the shield will break by Friday.

"The heat in the Czech Republic will peak this coming weekend, when afternoon highs will reach 35 to 38 °C," meteorologist Radek Bachtík told Novinky.cz.

He added that numerical weather models indicate Sunday could see temperatures exceed 39 °C, potentially threatening the country’s absolute historical record of 40.4 °C, which was measured in Dobřichovice in August 2012.

The weekend will offer little relief even after sundown. Nighttime lows are expected to remain above 20 °C, crossing the threshold into what meteorologists classify as "supertropical nights."

Such prolonged heat poses heightened health risks, particularly in urban areas like Prague and Brno, where concrete structures retain heat.

The current European heatwave has already proven dangerous.

Emergency services in Germany and France reported multiple drownings over the weekend as residents flocked to rivers and lakes to cool down, prompting water safety warnings across the region.

Czech emergency services are advising the public to limit direct sun exposure during afternoon hours, significantly increase fluid intake, and check on vulnerable neighbors.

City municipalities are expected to deploy water misting trailers in major public squares by Friday morning.

Relief from the suffocating conditions is expected early next week. A significant cold front accompanied by severe thunderstorms is forecast to move across the Czech Republic on Tuesday, which meteorologists predict will drop temperatures by more than 10 °C.

Europe is experiencing its second heat wave this year. This time, it was caused by a mass of hot air flowing north from the Sahara. The impacts include human casualties, delayed or stopped train services due to overheating and subsequent deformation of the rails, and absolute temperature records.

The country is currently struggling not only with temperature records, but also with strong storms.