Balkans swelter in record-breaking heat

EASTERN EUROPE sweltered in a pre-summer heat wave Wednesday that pushed temperatures to A 121-YEAR HIGH in Belgrade and halted a Hungarian train after the tracks bent. In Bulgaria, temperatures reached 35 degrees Celsius in the western part of the country, the highest in a century for the end of May. Belgrade, Serbia's capital, had 39 degrees, the highest May heat since 1887. Neighbouring Macedonia recorded 38 degrees in the south and 35 degrees in the capital Skopje. Szeged, a Hungarian city near the Romanian and Serbian borders, reported 34 degrees, the HIGHEST FOR THE DAY SINCE RECORD-KEEPING BEGAN. Unseasonably high temperatures were forecast throughout Greece. Italy is also in the throes of a heatwave .

The first heat wave of the year was set to hit Germany this week, with temperatures poised to crack 30 degrees Celsius in the southwestern part of the country.

Germany Faces Hot and Stormy Weekend
The mercury is set to soar this weekend in Germany, as shifting high pressure system “Otto” brings high temperatures and occasionally heavy thunderstorms to much of the country.