After enduring a relentless stretch of searing temperatures, relief is finally in sight for south-east Europe. The Balkans, which have been scorched by a brutal heatwave over recent weeks, have seen daily maximum temperatures soar, culminating in a peak on Saturday with widespread temperatures of 40C (104F) and above across Albania, Serbia, Bulgaria and neighbouring regions.
Turkey also suffered, with a scorching 50.5C (122.9F) recorded in Silopi on Friday, the country’s all-time highest maximum temperature. Now these places are set to experience a dramatic cooldown as a refreshing northerly airmass is moving in, bringing an abrupt end to the extreme heat and offering much-needed respite.
The shift will be striking as temperatures are expected to tumble from above 40C to below 30C (86F), with some areas experiencing a drop of more than 15C in maximum daily highs as the week progresses.
In Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, for instance, Saturday’s peak of 38.9C (102F) will give way to maximum daytime temperatures struggling to reach the low 20s celsius by Tuesday. The cool change will also bring the potential for rainfall as it turns a little more unsettled over the coming days – welcome news for firefighters battling wildfires that have plagued the region in recent weeks.
The respite is expected to take a little longer in Turkey, although temperatures will be closer to the seasonal norm by the end of the week.
Across the Atlantic, Canada continues to struggle with both heat and fire. The country remains in the grip of its own heatwave, which has fuelled numerous wildfires and severely degraded air quality. The Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec remain under multiple health advisories as the smoke lingers, causing health issues as the fine particulates associated with the smoke irritate the lungs and can trigger or exacerbate respiratory or cardiovascular disease.
The pollution is not confined to Canada, however. High levels of airborne particulates are drifting eastward into the United States, prompting air quality alerts in states including Maine and New York too.
Meanwhile in Asia, north-western India is bracing for an onslaught of torrential rainfall. Intense thunderstorms are forecast to deliver more than 200mm (7.8in) of rain within just 24 hours across parts of east Rajasthan on Monday, with the city of Kota – home to about 1.5 million people – potentially in the direct path of impact. Across the border in Madhya Pradesh, stations such as Shivpuri have already reported significant rainfall, with 118mm (4.6in) recorded in just 24 hours by 8.30am local time on the morning of Sunday.
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Although the monsoon season is well under way, these regions – typically hot and arid during the summer – are especially vulnerable. The long dry spells leave soils hardened and hydrophobic, increasing the risk of flash flooding as rainwater rapidly runs off the surface. With thunderstorms expected to continue into Tuesday and Wednesday, cumulative rainfall totals could exceed 400mm (15.7in) in some areas. The potential for widespread flooding, especially in urban centres, remains a pressing concern through the week.