Thermal Variability in the Lublin Region During an Exceptionally Severe Heat Wave in August 2015

Heat waves are defined as at least 3 consecutive days with maximum temperaturę >30°C (Krzyżewska, Wereski 2011). Their course largely depends on the circulation conditions, but local conditions related to the geographic location and surroundings of the station also play an important role. According to the International Panel for Climate Change, heat waves are treated as extreme events (IPCC 2014) that will be longer and more intensive in the future (Meehl, Tebaldi 2004). One of the longest and most intensive heat waves in Central-East Europe occurred in the first half of August 2015. In the Lublin Region, it commenced on 3 August 2015, and lasted continuously for almost two weeks. The objective of the paper is to present the variability of the thermal conditions that occurred in the Lublin Region during an exceptionally strong heat wave in August 2015. The analysis was performed based on data obtained from six stations of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) and seven automatic field stations of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS).