Hungary heatwave shatters temperature record, fuels fires and strong winds

On July 1, 2026, Hungary recorded an all‑time high temperature of 42 °C in Szécsény, breaking the previous national record of 41.9 °C set in 2007. The extreme heat also broke several local records in Budapest and other cities. In Szeged, the heat caused public transport troubles: electric buses and trams struggled with interior temperatures, and Stadler FLIRT trains were taken out of service until a cooler morning. Residents retreated to indoor cooling as street cafés emptied.

A cold front that followed brought winds exceeding 60 km/h across the Alföld region, prompting warnings of wind‑related damage. Meanwhile, a forest fire near Makó burned about 25 hectares and reached a height of 400 metres, prompting a joint response from fire crews in Makó, Hódmezővásárhely, Mezőkovácsháza and Szeged.

Satellite images showed Lake Velence turning bright green from massive algae growth, while the River Tisza recorded record‑low water levels, underscoring a severe drought linked to the prolonged heat spell.