RHMZ forecasts heatwave from June 19, up to 35 degrees
After a cooler weekend, a hot air mass arrives from North Africa. From Friday, June 19, temperatures climb to 35 degrees, with tropical nights in Belgrade and Vojvodina.
- Serbia's weather service RHMZ forecasts a heatwave starting June 19, as a hot air mass moves in from North Africa.
- Peak temperatures will range from 30 to 35 degrees, with tropical nights in Belgrade and Vojvodina, when the low stays above 20 degrees.
- Astronomical summer begins on June 21 at 10:24 a.m.
- Before the heat arrives, intense downpours are possible across the north of the country.
Was that weekend cool-down just a tease? Unfortunately, yes, because the Republic Hydrometeorological Service (RHMZ) now confirms that a hot air mass will start spreading over Serbia from Friday, June 19. It is coming up from North Africa, bringing genuine summer heat and the first tropical nights of the season.
After a few days that gave us a break, the mercury is climbing again. Highs will range from 30 to 35 degrees, and as usual the hottest spots will be the Morava and Sava valleys and the south of the country. Before the heat settles in, forecasters expect intense downpours across northern Serbia, so it is worth keeping an umbrella handy for a few more days.
What exactly is a heatwave and a tropical night?
A heatwave is not just a single hot day. It means several days in a row with temperatures well above the seasonal average, when the body never gets a chance to cool down, not even overnight. That is where the term tropical night comes in.
A tropical night is one in which the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees. For Belgrade and Vojvodina, that means waking up in a stuffy apartment in the small hours, with sleep that keeps breaking up. Doctors at the Institute of Public Health have warned for years that tropical nights are the heaviest burden on the body, because the heart and blood vessels never get to rest.
The calendar helps only on paper. Astronomical summer begins on June 21 at 10:24 a.m., two days after the first real wave of heat arrives. In other words, we will feel summer before it officially starts.
How can you prepare before the heat arrives?
You have a few days of lead time, so use them. Here are practical steps you can actually take today, before you head out the door.
First, check your water supply at home. During a heatwave an adult needs far more fluid than usual, and children and older relatives tend to forget to drink. A bottle of water on every table in the home is a simple step that makes a real difference.
Second, rethink the rhythm of your day. If you can, get the hardest chores and the shopping done before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m., when the sun is not at its peak. A midday walk with the kids or the dog during the wave is not a good idea.
Third, prepare your home. Lowered blinds and closed windows during the day keep the cooler air inside, so save the airing out for early morning and late evening. A fan pointed at a bowl of ice gives a pleasant effect without a big jump in your electricity bill.
Pay special attention to elderly neighbors and relatives who live alone. One phone call a day during the wave, just to check that they are drinking water and feeling well, sometimes matters more than we think. Heatwaves are most dangerous precisely for those who do not ask for help in time.
So, do you already have a plan for keeping your home cool, or is this wave catching you unprepared?
