After Screaming in 40°C "Scorching Heat," Temperatures Suddenly Drop by 12°C... What's Happening in Europe?

Heatwave Retreats as Cold Air Spreads...Sharp Temperature Drop
Collision of Cold Air and Mediterranean Heat Raises Risk of Downpours and Thunderstorms

The record-breaking heatwave that struck Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula is expected to ease this week. In some regions, temperatures are forecast to drop by as much as 10 to 12 degrees below the seasonal average. However, even as the heat subsides, the risk of wildfires and severe thunderstorms—and thus another round of weather emergencies—remains high.

The photo is not directly related to the content of the article. Photo by AFP Yonhap News.

Cold Air from Northern Europe Moves South... "Unusual Cooling" Across Europe

According to Severe Weather Europe, a weather-specialized media outlet, on July 20 (local time), the recent heatwave that blanketed Europe has gradually weakened as a shift in atmospheric currents has allowed cold air from Northern Europe to spread into Central and Eastern Europe.

As a result, temperatures in Central and Eastern Europe are expected to drop by 4 to 8 degrees below the average for this time of year, with daytime highs in most areas falling below 30 degrees Celsius, returning to typical levels.

In particular, on Thursday, the temperature drop is forecast to be most pronounced in northern Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, and Poland.

Furthermore, on Friday and Saturday, an exceptionally unusual cooling is expected in southern parts of the Balkan Peninsula, southern Italy, and some regions of Greece, where temperatures may fall as much as 10 to 12 degrees below the seasonal norm.

Nighttime temperatures are also forecast to drop significantly. From midweek through the weekend, morning lows in many areas are expected to fall to the lower- to mid-teens, with some inland regions dropping to around 10 degrees Celsius. This is projected to significantly mitigate the urban heat island effect (where city temperatures are higher than surrounding areas).

The photo is not directly related to the content of the article. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

"End of the Heatwave? Too Soon to Relax"... Risks of Heavy Rain and Wildfires Remain

However, even as the heatwave eases, other weather-related disasters remain a concern. The collision between cold air and lingering hot air over the Mediterranean is likely to trigger severe thunderstorms and torrential downpours, especially in Italy, Greece, Romania, and along the Black Sea coast.

Additionally, analysts warn that the persistent drought, resulting from prolonged dry conditions, cannot be fully resolved by brief bursts of heavy rain alone, so the risks of drought and wildfires that accumulated during the heatwave period remain high.

Meanwhile, while Central and Eastern Europe are experiencing unseasonal cooling, the Iberian Peninsula—including Spain and Portugal—is expected to continue facing intense heat, with temperatures remaining around 40 degrees Celsius this week, highlighting the ongoing temperature polarization across the continent.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.