For the third day in a row, the Czech Republic basked in unseasonably warm December weather, breaking temperature records across much of the country. On Wednesday, more than one-third of long-standing meteorological stations reported new highs as temperatures soared above 15°C in many regions. Yet, while western parts of the country felt almost springlike, Moravia shivered under a blanket of fog and cold air trapped by an inversion.
According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ), the highest temperature on Wednesday was recorded in Kremže in South Bohemia—just shy of 16°C. Český Budějovice followed closely, where Tuesday’s high of 16.4°C remains the week’s peak reading. Meteorologists attribute this unusually mild spell to persistent southwest airflows bringing warm air masses into Central Europe.
Karlova Studánka, a mountain spa town in the Jeseníky range, reached 13.9°C—matching a December record that had stood since 1979. “It’s remarkable to see so many stations with long-term data history breaking records at once,” noted a ČHMÚ spokesperson.
However, the warmth was far from widespread. A thick layer of low cloud settled over much of Moravia, keeping skies gray and visibility low. In these areas, thermometers struggled to climb above 6°C. The result was a sharp temperature contrast between the fog-covered east and sunlit western hills.
Though Wednesday likely marked the end of this record-breaking spell, meteorologists predict no immediate return to wintry conditions. A cooling trend is expected in the coming days, but temperatures are still forecast to remain above the seasonal average. With Christmas approaching, the mild pattern raises questions once again about whether Czechia will experience a white holiday—or just another warm, brown December.