The national daily heat record of 39.9 C, recorded in 1935, was broken on Sunday afternoon, alongside the daily heat record for Budapest. In Újpest (District IV), 40.6 C was recorded, exceeding the previous Budapest record of 39.5 C, also recorded in 1935.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Hungary remains 41.9 C, measured in Kiskunhalas on July 20, 2007. Fresh forecasts, however, suggest that maximum temperatures could approach or even exceed that level early this week, with the Great Plain potentially seeing readings of up to 42 C.

The week is set to begin with extreme heat. On Monday, scorching sunshine will dominate and no rainfall is expected. Southerly and southeasterly winds may become brisk at times, while afternoon temperatures are expected to rise to around 39-40 C in parts of the country.

Tuesday is forecast to bring some changes in western Hungary, where winds are expected to turn northerly and northwesterly and become brisk. Sunshine will still dominate across much of the country, but in the afternoon, cumulus clouds may build more strongly in eastern and northeastern areas. Scattered showers and thunderstorms may develop, potentially accompanied by strong or stormy easterly and northeasterly winds, as well as hail.

Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to range from 16 C to 25 C in the early morning and from 35 C to 42 C during the day.

Weather portal Időkép, citing ECMWF data, reported that the end of the prolonged hot spell is becoming increasingly visible. After a series of heat records, cooling is finally moving within reach, offering relief from a heatwave that has placed a heavy burden on daily life, with many people experiencing fatigue, irritability, weaker concentration and general discomfort.

A cold front is then expected to arrive on Wednesday. Its effects may first be felt in western and northwestern Hungary, where the heat could begin to ease more noticeably. Even so, much of the country is still expected to experience temperatures of 32-38 C.

The front is also expected to bring a shift in the weather pattern, with showers and thunderstorms developing in several areas. Because of the marked nature of the front, stronger and more widespread storms may also occur, with downpours and possibly larger hail.

By Thursday, the long-awaited relief is expected to become more widespread. Current forecasts suggest that temperatures will remain below 30 C in most parts of the country, although southeastern regions may still see values of 31-32 C. Even there, this would represent a drop of nearly 10 C compared with the peak of the heatwave.

The relief may not last indefinitely. Longer-range forecasts already indicate the possibility of another hot spell taking shape later, suggesting that Hungary’s summer weather extremes may continue even after the current heatwave breaks.