Start of August in Czechia was among the coldest and rainiest in decades

Czechia has experienced an unseasonably cold start to August, with meteorologists reporting that it's the second coldest and rainiest start to the month since 1991. Residents across the country have been reaching for their umbrellas and jackets as temperatures plummeted and rainfall reached remarkable levels.

According to data released by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ), the average temperature during the first 10 days of August was a mere 14.9 degrees Celsius. When compared to the average from 1991 to 2022, the beginning of August 2023 was 4.3 degrees Celsius colder than the historical norm. “It was colder in this period only in 2005 (when it was 14.7 degrees Celsius). We recorded the warmest beginning of August in 2015 (23.9 degrees Celsius),” the ČHMÚ said on Facebook.

Precipitation was 255 percent of the long-term average, with 72.0 mm of precipitation falling between Aug. 1 and 10. Only 2006, when 85.6 mm fell, was rainier. On the contrary, the least precipitation fell in 2003, which saw only 1.8 mm on average.

Rainfall wasn’t even across the country. The most precipitation was recorded at the mountain stations Slaměnka with 215.6 mm, Blatný vrch with 190.0 mm, and Labská bouda with 166.6 mm. The least precipitation fell in Prague, with 34.2 mm, and Central Bohemia, with 52.8 mm.

The meteorologists, however, anticipated a return to summer weather over the next few days, thanks to a ridge of higher air pressure that is expected to usher in warmer air. This change is expected to bring temperatures back to a more seasonable range.

According to their forecasts, temperatures today are set to reach highs between 23 to 29 degrees Celsius and exceed 30 degrees Celsius during the weekend. The influx of warm air is expected to intensify, leading to sunny weather across most of the Czech Republic. However, some areas, particularly in the northwest of Bohemia, may also experience occasional showers or even thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday.