The human resources ministry has extended a “red code” heat alert for Hungary, expected to be in force until 8pm today.
The ministry said extending the heat alert was justified because in line with the national weather service’s forecast, average daily temperatures will exceed 27 degrees Celsius. During a red alert, all institutions in the social sector must follow a special procedure and offer shelter to homeless people, the ministry said.
A new heat record of 40 C was measured in Fülöpháza, in central Hungary, on Thursday. According to OMSZ, such high temperatures have not been measured in June since 1901, when the institute started its observations. Nationwide, the highest average temperature reached 37 C, about 10 C higher than usual. The Budapest record has also been broken, with 38.1 C in northern parts of the city, compared to the previous record for the day, 35.2 C, measured in 2002. The previous heat record for the country was also measured in 2002, at 38.4 C, in Békéscsaba, in south-eastern Hungary.