Heat warning issued as Prague braces for hot weekend

In addition to a fire warning across the Czech Republic, which has been extended indefinitely, new heat warnings have been issued throughout the country this weekend, with temperatures forecast to exceed 36 degrees Celsius in some locations on Sunday afternoon.

Meteorologists have issued a low-level warning for high temperatures on Saturday in Prague and surrounding areas, and on Sunday for most areas of the Czech Republic, with temperatures soaring above tropical levels in the afternoon.

On Sunday, temperatures may even exceed 36 degrees Celsius in some areas, including Prague and surroundings in Central and North Bohemia. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute updated its weather warnings for the weekend this morning.

A warm air mass will intensify and spread across the Czech Republic from the southwest. Today, afternoon temperatures in Prague and areas of Central and Northern Bohemia, as well as in the Plzeň region, will exceed 31 degrees Celsius.

"In the same areas, Sunday's afternoon temperatures will mostly range between 33 and 36 degrees Celsius, resulting in an orange [medium-level] warning with a high degree of danger," the Institute writes on social media.

In the rest of the Czech Republic, except for the Moravian-Silesian region and the Jeseníky area, a low-level yellow warning is in effect through Sunday evening. Afternoon temperatures in these areas will generally reach 30 to 34 degrees Celsius.

The Institute warns that high temperatures are expected to continue into the following week, with warnings gradually being updated.

The intense heat poses a significant burden on the human body, increasing the risk of overheating and dehydration. People are advised to maintain proper hydration by increasing their consumption of water and unsweetened non-alcoholic beverages.

It is also important to limit physical exertion and avoid direct sunlight during midday and the afternoon hours. The high temperatures can also cause problems with transportation as the heat may lead to rail expansion for trains and trams.

Due to the dry and hot weather conditions, a nationwide warning about the risk of wildfires is also currently in effect. Some regions have already banned smoking and starting fires in high-risk areas such as forests, parks, and areas surrounding hay and straw storage facilities.