Heat up to +37 and thunderstorms in the north: how tropical air from the Balkans will determine the weather in Ukraine on August 21

Tropical air and heat up to +37

According to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, as reported by RBC-Ukraine, on August 21, most regions of Ukraine will experience dry and hot weather caused by tropical air masses coming from the Balkans. Thermometers across the majority of the territory will rise to +35…+37 degrees. The wind will be predominantly southwesterly, strong, with speeds of 7–12 m/s, which will further intensify the feeling of heat during the daytime.

Night mode and regional differences

At night, the air will cool down to +15…+20 degrees, however, daytime heating will remain uneven across regions. In the southeast of the country, slightly more moderate heat is expected — within the range of +30…+34 degrees, while the rest of the territory will maintain abnormally high temperatures of up to +35…+37 degrees. Thus, it is the central and western regions that will find themselves at the epicenter of the heat.

Precipitation: where rain and thunderstorms

Throughout the day, forecasters predict dry weather without precipitation in most regions. The only exception will be the northern part of Ukraine, where brief rain accompanied by thunderstorm activity is possible during the day. These local downpours and lightning flashes will be the main contrast to the overall hot picture of the day.

Contradictory data

When comparing versions from different publications, two inconsistencies are revealed. First, in RBC-Ukraine materials, the source of the heat is indicated as tropical air from the Balkans, whereas in the TSN.ua review headline, the talk is about “abnormal heat from Africa” — meaning the sides characterize the origin of air masses differently. Second, the main text reports that a noticeable cooling is expected “from the middle of the week,” while August 21 will still be hot; at the same time, TSN.ua previously warned about a “sharp change in weather on August 19.” This creates a discrepancy regarding which specific day the weather turn occurs and how stable it is.

Why the home thermometer may “lie”

Forecasters remind that readings from household thermometers often exceed official forecast values. The reason is surfaces heated by the sun (asphalt, walls, instrument casing), which distort the result. Meteorologists, however, measure the temperature of the air directly in special psychrometric huts protected from direct solar radiation, so forecast figures and home instrument readings may differ.

Weekly context

The established heat is a continuation of the hot start of the week, when temperatures in several regions already reached +33 degrees. At the same time, according to the forecast, a noticeable cooling is expected from the second half of the week, which may replace the scorching picture with a cooler one. Residents of hot regions are advised to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, drink enough water, and account for possible thunderstorm activity in the northern part of the country.