The ongoing heatwave has prompted Hungary’s Chief Medical Officer to extend the Level 3 heat alert until Friday midnight. The highest-level heat alert was originally set to remain in effect until midnight on Tuesday. National and Budapest temperature records were broken, and Hungary was one of the hottest countries in Europe on Monday.
Persistent heat is expected to continue in the coming days, which can take a toll on everyone. Therefore, it is especially important during this time to look after our own health and look out for one another. The elderly, young children, pregnant women, people with chronic conditions—particularly cardiovascular and respiratory diseases—those with metabolic disorders, and outdoor workers are especially at risk.
Do not wait until you feel thirsty; instead, drink water regularly in larger amounts than usual. Sugary soft drinks, alcohol, and excessive caffeine consumption can increase fluid loss, therefore drinking water is recommended above all else.
Pedestrians cool off in a misting station in Budapest on July 30, 2026. Photo: MTI/Bruzák Noémi
It is important that, during hot weather, no one discards a lit or smoldering cigarette butt, and that no one leaves flammable items (such as lighters or aerosol cans) in a car parked in the sun, as these can become a fire hazard in the heating passenger compartment.
Recently, firefighters have been called to an average of 100 outdoor fires per day.
Forests, stubble fields, farmlands, and grassy areas were burning, in some cases covering tens of hectares. The disaster management authority is asking everyone to avoid starting fires outdoors while the heat warning is in effect.
On Monday, both the national and Budapest daily early-morning low-temperature records were broken, according to a statement on the HugaroMet website. Early Monday morning, the temperature dropped to 26.8 degrees Celsius at the Lágymányos station in Budapest. The capital’s daily high temperature record was also broken: a peak temperature of 39.6 degrees Celsius was recorded in Újpest.
On Monday, Hungary was one of the hottest countries in Europe, with peak temperatures mostly ranging between 36 and 40 degrees Celsius, while the daily average temperature typically ranged between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius,
writes the meteorological service. Europe continues to experience a heatwave. Across much of the continent, maximum temperatures on Monday exceeded 30 degrees Celsius.
The water level at the Kisköre-felső gauge on Lake Tisza has dropped below 700 centimeters, writes the Middle Tisza Water Directorate. The drop in water level is the result of an extreme lack of precipitation in the Tisza watershed, extremely low inflow into the river, and increased evaporation.
Staff members of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta are visiting 5,000 elderly people living alone across the country in the coming days to provide assistance to those most at risk during the heatwave,
the organization announced.
Staff members of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta visit an elderly woman living alone at her home. Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán
As they wrote, their staff members are reaching out to elderly people living alone within the catchment area of the charity’s facilities to ensure that they can safely weather the extreme heat. They ask, in particular, about their well-being, their fluid intake, and whether there is anyone in their immediate vicinity whom they can turn to for help in case of an emergency.
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Kocsis Zoltán