Ammon News - The Czech Republic recorded its highest-ever temperature on Saturday, with a reading of 40.6C at a weather station in Doksany north of Prague, the national meteorological service (CHMI) said.

The new high beat a previous record of 40.4C, set in 2012 in Dobrichovice southwest of the capital, CHMI added.

"Temperatures are still rising mildly so this may not be the final value," CHMI said on X, adding it would publish a full summary of temperatures later in the day.

Like much of Europe, the Czech Republic has been grappling with a heatwave for the past two weeks.

CHMI said the heat is expected to peak on Sunday with temperatures expected to get close or even exceed 41C.

It added that Saturday marked the first time a temperature above 40C had been recorded in June.

Streets in a southern district of Prague were unusually empty on Saturday, according to an AFP journalist, as Czechs opted to stay home, at swimming pools, in parks or air-conditioned spaces, or headed to the countryside for the scorching weekend.

Prague's public transport operator said it had reduced tram speeds to 40 kilometers per hour and to 10 kilometers per hour under bridges due to the risk of overhead wires warping in the heat.

Water trucks have been spraying streets across the country to cool urban areas and help reduce ground-level ozone levels.

Several festivals and other public events have also installed misting systems to help cool crowds.