From Saturday through Monday, Albania is set to experience a heatwave, with temperatures expected to soar up to 40°C and, in some areas, even reaching 41°C. The cities of Shkodra, Elbasan, Berat, and Gjirokastra are forecasted to record the highest temperatures during these three days.

Context

This heatwave, named “Sharon” by meteorologists, is impacting the entire Mediterranean basin, with southern Italy being the hardest hit. The good news is that after these three scorching days, temperatures are expected to drop, bringing cooler weather starting from Tuesday. This summer is considered the hottest and driest in Albania in the past three decades. In July 2024, temperatures across the Balkans were 3-4°C above the average values for the 1991-2020 period.