Poland records highest-ever temperature, Hungary urges remote work as heatwave grips Europe

A widespread, intense heatwave in Europe has shattered Poland's century-old temperature record and prompted Hungarian authorities to urge remote work in the public sector.

Poland recorded its highest-ever temperature on Sunday, surpassing a national record that had stood for more than a century, although the reading is still awaiting official confirmation, according to the country's Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW).

IMGW spokesperson Agnieszka Prasek said temperatures reached 40.5 degrees Celsius in the western border town of Slubice and 40.3 degrees Celsius in Torun on Sunday during a severe heatwave sweeping across Central Europe.

The previous national record of 40.2 degrees Celsius was set in Proszkow, southern Poland, on July 29, 1921.

Prasek said the latest figures were based on hourly telemetry and operational data, while official weather stations record temperatures at designated observation times. The institute is still verifying the data.

The record-breaking readings came as the IMGW issued its highest, third-level heat warnings for large parts of the country, forecasting temperatures of up to 42 degrees Celsius in some regions.

As the heatwave intensified, Polish authorities instructed government ministries to take immediate measures within their respective areas of responsibility. Firefighters and police were placed on heightened alert over increased wildfire risks and water-related accidents, while the Health Ministry stepped up monitoring of heatstroke and dehydration cases, particularly among the elderly and children.

Meanwhile, Hungary is preparing for what the health authorities described as the country's most severe heatwave in two decades with emergency measures, including water-use restrictions, rail speed limits and health advisories.

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced on Sunday that public-sector institutions would switch to remote work wherever operationally feasible and urged private employers to adopt similar arrangements. Authorities also advised postponing outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day to reduce health risks.

Hungary remains under a third-degree heat alert, the country's highest level, with temperatures forecast to reach between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius across much of the country in the coming days.

The national weather service HungaroMet said daily maximum temperature records for June 27 were broken on Saturday, with temperatures reaching 40.0 degrees Celsius in Budakalasz and 39.8 degrees Celsius in Budapest. Overnight minimum temperatures also set new daily records, highlighting the persistence of the extreme heat.

Poland and Hungary are among several Central European countries affected by the heatwave, with Germany and the Czech Republic also reporting unusually high temperatures over the weekend as the extreme heat spread eastward across the continent. Relief is expected in Hungary by Wednesday or Thursday.

Poland records highest-ever temperature, Hungary urges remote work as heatwave grips Europe

The first clutch of Yangtze alligator eggs this year was discovered recently in the Anhui Chinese alligator national nature reserve in eastern China.

In the Zhongqiao area of the reserve in Jingxian County, Anhui Province, staff members found a nest of 32 fertilized eggs in good developmental status on June 20, marking the start of the wild breeding cycle for Yangtze alligators throughout the reserve.

To minimize human intervention, the staff have installed high-precision temperature and humidity meters inside the nest to monitor its micro-environment around the clock.

Infrared cameras have also been set up at concealed locations around the nest to record the behavior of the female alligator protecting the nest all day long, promptly preventing the invasion of natural enemies and achieving full-process intelligent monitoring.

The Yangtze alligator, which has lived on Earth for over 200 million years, is a protected species of first-class importance endemic to China. The species, also known as the Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the country's longest waterway.

First clutch of Yangtze alligator eggs discovered in Anhui reserve this year