Facts: Swedish heat record
The heat record in Sweden is 38.0 degrees Celsius and has been measured on two occasions. Partly in Ultuna, outside Uppsala, on 9 July 1933 and partly in Målilla in Småland, 29 June 1947.
Source: SMHI
Already on Tuesday, temperatures will start to climb around Sweden, but the peak is expected to be reached on Wednesday and Thursday. It is the extreme heat that has affected large parts of Europe, and which has led to heat records in the UK, which has now reached Sweden.
On Tuesday, you can expect temperatures of between 25 and 30 degrees in Götaland, says Sandra Fyrstedt, meteorologist at SMHI. Then it gets even hotter.
– During Wednesday and Thursday, the hot air rises over Götaland, Svealand and southern Norrland with temperatures that in many places will be over 30 degrees, she says.
Can be 35 degrees
It looks like it will be warmest on Thursday in the eastern parts of Götaland and Svealand. Then temperatures of around 35 degrees are expected in some places. The Swedish heat record is at 38 degrees – but whether it will be really that hot remains to be seen.
– It will be very high temperatures, it is not something we see very often. We will certainly break some station records in places in Sweden, but I do not know if we will break the Sweden record, says Sandra Fyrstedt.
But the heat wave does not last long. Already on Thursday, the heat will begin to shift eastwards and onwards on Friday and the weekend cooler weather is expected. Until then, however, it is important to be attentive – not least if you are planning a barbecue evening.
High fire risk
The fire risk is great in Götaland and Svealand. In the northern part of Kalmar County, on Öland and Gotland and in south-eastern Östergötland, the risk of fire is extremely high according to SMHI. As the heat wave sweeps in over the country, it will also be drier up over Norrland, says Sandra Fyrstedt.
– It is already dry in forests and land in large parts of Götaland and Svealand. This warm weather will make it continue to get drier, so there is still a great risk of fire, she says.