Czech game developer Daniel Vávra's 1540 heat claim debunked by media

Game developer Daniel Vávra reposted a claim that in 1540 the River Labe completely dried up and that temperatures remained above 30 °C for eleven consecutive months. Czech outlet Deník.cz highlighted that the Celsius scale was introduced only in the 18th century, so such temperature figures could not have been recorded at the time. Historians and climate researchers note that 1540 was indeed an exceptionally dry and warm year in Central Europe, but temperature estimates are based on reconstructions from historical documents, not direct measurements. The media criticism also pointed out Vávra's insulting remarks toward a journalist and his pattern of sharing misleading information.

The story underscores the challenges of comparing modern climate data with historical periods and the importance of accurate communication in public climate debates.