July 7, 5:17
The heat in the Irkutsk region reached its peak and entered the history of weather observations. But in the coming hours, the weather scenario will change dramatically: the hot air will be replaced by an active cold front with showers, thunderstorms and squally winds.
© Shutterstock/PHOTODOM
A severe heat warning remains in effect for the region. On July 6–7, the maximum temperature in some places reached +37 degrees. In Irkutsk itself, on July 6, the absolute maximum of the day was updated: the air warmed up to +33.3 degrees. The previous record, +33.0 degrees, stood for 110 years – since 1916.
The cause of the extreme heat was a powerful outflow of hot air from Central Asia along the western periphery of a vast anticyclone. However, a cold front is already approaching the region from the northwest, behind which much cooler air is spreading.
The contrast of air masses creates favorable conditions for the development of dangerous convection. Therefore, a new storm warning has been announced for July 7–8. In some places in the Irkutsk region, heavy and very heavy rains, intense downpours, thunderstorms, hail, as well as strong northwest winds with gusts of 15–20 m/s are expected.
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