Jelgava observation station breaks July 31 heat record

Air temperature at the Jelgava observation station reached 31.8 degrees by 3 p.m. on Friday, breaking the heat record for the final day of July, LSM reported.

The station is located in Staļģene. According to data from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, temperatures also reached 31.8 degrees in Dobele, matching the record for July 31 at that observation station.

The highest temperature recorded at 3 p.m. was 32 degrees in Bauska. No record was set there, however, as the temperature reached 33.3 degrees on the same date in 2018. In Riga, the air warmed to 30 degrees, while temperatures at Riga Airport reached 31 degrees.

Latvia’s record temperature for the final day of July is 34.1 degrees, recorded in Riga in 2002.

Forecasters expect brief rain in many parts of central and eastern Latvia on Friday evening and during the night into Saturday. Thunderstorms are possible in some areas, bringing very heavy rain, strong wind gusts, hail and storms. Winds will generally be light, allowing fog to develop, with more widespread fog expected in Kurzeme.

Overnight temperatures will fall to 16 to 19 degrees, and to 13 to 15 degrees in Kurzeme. The first day of August will be mostly cloudy, with brief rain in places and light winds. Temperatures will rise to 20 to 25 degrees.