Europe weather split: flooding in France and drought risks in Hungary

Europe is experiencing highly contrasting weather patterns. While parts of Western Europe, particularly France, have faced extreme rainfall—with some southern French stations recording over 300 mm of precipitation in just 48 hours—Central Europe is facing a period of significant dryness.

In Hungary, an anticyclone is blocking incoming weather fronts, leading to a prolonged period of sunshine and high temperatures. Daytime highs are expected to reach between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius, which is approximately 6 to 7 degrees above the long-term average. However, significant temperature fluctuations are expected, with chilly mornings and nights ranging between 4 and 10 degrees Celsius.

Meteorological models, including forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), suggest that this lack of precipitation could lead to extreme or even exceptional drought conditions in parts of Central Europe through early October.