(Vilnius) – Lithuanian temperatures have hit record June highs, meteorologists said, as a heatwave forced school closures and threatened to reduce harvests in the draught-hit Baltic region.
Kaisiadorys in central Lithuania was the hottest place at 35.7 degrees Celsius (96.2 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, the highest-ever temperature recorded for June in the country, weather forecaster Paulius Starkus told AFP.
Six people drowned in the Baltic EU state on Wednesday, the deadliest day of the year to date, while some schools put classes on hold or cut lessons short due to the heatwave.
Scientists say the extreme weather is in part a result of climate change.
“Lithuania used to have heatwaves but now they occur more often and are more intense due to climate change,” Vilnius University climatologist Donatas Valiukas told AFP.
Starkus said a downpour with thunder and hail could follow in some areas on Thursday afternoon.