Tirana, Albania, +37.6 °C, only 2,1°C below all-time June record! Extreme heat in African, Asian, and the European Mediterranean at once
Marek Kučera 
☀️ Mediterranean Extraordinary Heatwave – June 2025
A remarkable early-summer heatwave has swept across much of the Mediterranean Basin, with hundreds of weather stations reporting record-breaking or near-record temperatures in early June 2025.
This widespread and intense heat has impacted the Balkans, Greece, North Africa, the Levant, and parts of Spain and France, pushing thermometers well above seasonal averages — in some places by more than 8–10°C.
🔥 Albania: Tirana Reaches 37.6°C
The capital of Albania, Tirana, soared to a sweltering 37.6°C, approaching or even exceeding some of its hottest June temperatures on record. This reading is one of the highest ever recorded in early June for the country.
Local meteorological services reported extreme heat stress in urban areas, with low overnight cooling exacerbating discomfort and increasing the risk to vulnerable populations.
🌍 Overview Across the Mediterranean
- Balkans: Record-level highs were widespread in Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia, where several stations crossed 40°C.
- Greece: Dozens of stations exceeded 38–40°C, with historic early-June records threatened.
- Spain & France: Southern parts of both countries experienced intense local heat, in Spain up to 43°C, in Portugal up to 41°C, though slightly below record thresholds in many places.
- North Africa: Temperatures in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco reached into the mid-45 Celsius, with multiple records confirmed for the first ten days of June.
- Turkey: Scorching temperatures in the southeast reached 44–46°C, especially in lowland river valleys.
- Levant: Parts of Lebanon, Israel, and western Syria also registered exceptionally high temperatures for this time of year.
🇮🇹 Italy: An Exception to the Record Heat
Interestingly, Italy remains a notable outlier in this pattern. While the peninsula is warm, temperatures have stayed well below record levels so far this June. Local variations in pressure systems and sea-breeze effects have likely buffered Italy from the extreme heat seen elsewhere in the region.
⚠️ Meteorological Context
- A strong upper-level ridge is dominating the region, trapping heat over land areas.
- This ridge blocks cooler Atlantic air from entering the Mediterranean.
- Soil dryness and intense solar radiation are enhancing ground-level heating.
- Weak marine influence in many inland basins allows daytime temperatures to soar unhindered.
🔎 Climate Significance
- These events are consistent with increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves in the Mediterranean under global warming scenarios.
- The Mediterranean is considered a climate change hotspot, with warming rates 20% faster than the global average.
- Extreme heat events in early summer may signal a long and dangerous hot season ahead, particularly in southern Europe and North Africa.
Illustration map. Source: tropicaltodbits.com
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirana
Marek Sadowski