High pressure has dominated central and eastern Europe in early August, breaking temperature records across the region. Austria recorded a high of ۴۱.۲C (۱۰۶.۲F), while Slovakia reached ۴۲.۲C. Hungary hit a peak of ۴۱.۸C, surpassing a record set in ۱۹۰۵, while overnight temperatures remained above ۲۸C in some areas, marking it as a tropical night.
The extreme temperatures have been driven by a heat dome beneath the high-pressure system, which traps warm air close to the surface.
The prolonged heat has dried out soil and vegetation, creating conditions conducive to the spread of wildfires. Fires have burned across Italy, France, Serbia and Bulgaria, damaging forests and forcing residents to evacuate.
Water levels in the Danube, which flows through much of the affected region, have fallen to an all-time low. The receding river has exposed archaeological remains and wartime wreckage, including woolly mammoth bones, second world war ships and remains associated with the Roman-era Constantine’s Bridge.
Low water levels have also affected energy production, reducing the efficiency of nuclear power plants in Slovakia and Serbia and forcing Hungary to shut down a plant because there was insufficient water for cooling.
Meanwhile, a buoy in the Mediterranean recorded a sea-surface temperature of ۳۳C. If verified, it would be the highest recorded in the region.
In eastern Asia, Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in China on Sunday. The national observatory had issued a red alert for the storm – the highest level – for prolonged heavy rainfall, high wind speeds and extensive damage. Dolphin has since weakened to a tropical storm.
Japan is braced for Typhoon Chan-hom, just days after Dolphin swept through northern Okinawa and the Amami islands. Chan-hom is expected to make landfall near the coast of Tohoku between Tuesday and Wednesday, with up to ۸۰mph (۱۲۹km/h) gusts and an atmospheric pressure of ۹۸۵ hPa.
A third system, Peilou, formed on Sunday in the western Pacific. Although it is not expected to make landfall in the Philippines, it is likely to strengthen the south-west monsoon, bringing further rain across the country. Other typhoons this year have intensified the monsoon, which has killed six people and displaced more than ۳۸۰,۰۰۰.
