LATVIA: Latvians flee to beaches and water fountains as the country sizzles in record temperatures

Record ID: 335635

  • Title: LATVIA: Latvians flee to beaches and water fountains as the country sizzles in record temperatures
  • Date: 4th August 2014
  • Summary: RIGA, LATVIA (AUGUST 4, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE COOLING OFF IN FOUNTAIN VARIOUS OF MAN TAKING PICTURE OF GIRL IN FOUNTAIN GIRL IN FOUNTAIN PEOPLE AT FOUNTAIN CHILDREN PLAYING IN FOUNTAIN METEOROLOGIST LAURA KRUMINA SHOWING HEAT MAP ON COMPUTER SCREEN HEAT MAP DETAIL OF MAP SHOWING RECORD TEMPERATURE LEVEL (SOUNDBITE) (Latvian) METEOROLOGIST, L
  • Embargoed: 19th August 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Latvia
  • Country: Latvia
  • Topics: Environment,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA178YT9ZXV5848TWYX4MSYODZ2
  • Story Text: This is the hottest summer of the century in Latvia and heat records are being broken every day.
    On Sunday (August 3), the highest ever registered air temperature of 36.7 degrees Celsius was measured only to be immediately topped on Monday (August 4) with 37.8 degrees.
    The heat record had not been broken for 71 years - the previous highest registered temperature was 36.4 degrees Celsius in 1943.
    "For the second day in a row the air temperature records have been broken, today in the middle of the day, at around 1 p.m., the temperature reached new highs of 36.9 degrees in Ventspils, and one hour later it was already over 37 degrees. It has never been this hot in Latvia," meteorologist, Laura Krunima told Reuters TV.
    Such heat is a rarity in Latvia, with usual average air temperatures in summer during the day reaching only slightly above 20 degrees Celsius.
    As temperatures continue to soar Latvians are flocking to any beach they can reach and those that can't make it are knee deep in any fountain they can find.
    "Yes, this heat is extreme. Latvia has never experienced such heat. I love warm weather but this is really heat. I have nothing to compare it with. Another Egypt," said one local Guna Bukava about the last week where temperatures at night have even stayed over 20 degrees.
    In the next few days, the temperature will drop, but not under 30 degrees Celsius.
    Meteorologists forecast that the heat will continue at least until mid-August.
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