A high-pressure system will bring hot weather to Ukraine, but thunderstorms are possible over the weekend
This coming weekend, Ukraine will see mostly dry and sunny weather due to the influence of a high-pressure system. At the same time, forecasters predict brief showers and thunderstorms in some regions, while temperatures will remain high.
An expert explained that over the weekend of July 18–19, the weather in Ukraine will be influenced, in particular, by a high-pressure system.
According to Didenko, it will prevent rain clouds from reaching most regions. Therefore, it will be mostly dry and sunny across the country.
At the same time, a “convergence line” will be active in western Ukraine, causing thunderstorms.
The meteorologist noted that the “convergence line” or “instability line” is marked on weather maps as a yellow line with spikes.
“This is a narrow zone where air currents converge, causing convection to intensify. As a result, heavy rain, downpours, and thunderstorms occur in this zone,” the expert explained.
She also clarified that convergence is the process by which several air currents converge in the same direction.
Convection, according to the meteorologist, is the main factor behind the formation of downpours, thunderstorms, squalls, and hail.
“When warm, light air rises and heavy, cold air sinks, these weather phenomena occur precisely as a result of their interaction,” Didenko noted.
According to the meteorologist’s forecast, dry and sunny weather will persist across the rest of Ukraine.
On the evening of Sunday, July 19, thunderstorms from the west may reach the Zhytomyr and Vinnytsia regions.
“So, please return from these regions a little earlier,” the specialist advised.
Didenko reported that during the day over the weekend, air temperatures in most regions will range from +24 to +29 °C.
In some places, temperatures may rise to +29...+31 °C.
“Summer weekends are getting fewer and fewer—don’t stay home; enjoy the benefits of Ukraine’s temperate continental climate. This isn’t like the +40 degrees in France,” the expert noted.
Dry and sunny weather is expected in the capital on July 18 and 19.
On Saturday, July 18, daytime temperatures will range from +25 to +26 °C, and on Sunday, July 19, the air will warm up to about +30 °C.
Overnight temperatures will be around +17 °C on July 18 and around +18 °C on July 19.
“We’re having a beautiful, blooming summer,” Didenko concluded.
As a reminder, Belgium has recorded a sharp rise in mortality amid a severe heat wave. According to the Sciensano public health institute, the excess mortality rate reached 47%—the highest figure since records began in 2000.
Earlier, average nuclear power generation in France fell below 33 GW, the lowest level in the past nine months, due to the need to limit output at nuclear power plants. The reduction was caused by a critical rise in the temperature of the water in the rivers used to cool the reactors.
