Hungary sets new national heat record with 42 °C temperature

A HungaroMet Zrt. study explains that a rare combination of atmospheric conditions led to Hungary’s highest ever temperature. Hot air masses from the western Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula merged, forming an intense heat‑cupola that moved north‑westward across Europe. The system reached the country in late June, bringing exceptionally high daytime temperatures.

On 30 June, a weather station near Szécsény recorded 42 °C, surpassing the previous absolute record of 41.9 °C set in 2007 by 0.1 °C. The researchers note that a nearby dissipating thunderstorm may have contributed additional warming. The event marked the first time the absolute national temperature record was broken under these specific meteorological circumstances.

The study highlights the role of a shallow cyclone over Morocco that redirected part of the Saharan air mass toward Europe and the strengthening of a high‑pressure anticline over France, which together intensified the heat wave across Central Europe.