Wednesday, April 16, marks the first official summer day of the year in the Czech Republic, defined by temperatures exceeding 25°C.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) confirmed the seasonal milestone and noted that temperatures are expected to continue rising throughout the afternoon.

Measurements from meteorological stations in the Moravian-Silesian, South Moravian, and Pilsen regions confirmed the temperature threshold had been reached.

Compared to last year, summer arrived later. In 2023, the first summer day fell on April 1, followed by the first tropical day—a day with temperatures above 30°C—on April 7.

According to climatologist Pavel Zahradníček from the Institute for Global Change Research (CzechGlobe), tropical days in April are relatively rare.

“On average, April sees a tropical day every two years, although lower elevations experience them more frequently,” he explained.

More Summer Days Bring Environmental Risks

While warmer days might seem like a welcome change, they come with serious downsides. “Higher temperatures lead to faster soil drying, lower milk yields in cattle, and greater wildfire risk, especially when combined with strong winds and dry soil conditions,” said Zahradníček.

The climatologist noted that the fire-risk period has increased by 20 to 25 days annually, starting earlier in the year than before.

This week, meteorologists issued a fire warning, citing an ongoing precipitation deficit and moderate to fresh winds. The alert remains in place until Friday noon, affecting most of Bohemia and western Moravia.

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