Heat Dome Settles Over Serbia: No Relief Until July
Meteorologist Ivan Ristic warns a heat dome is parking over Serbia, with temperatures staying above 35 degrees and tropical nights gripping the cities. Here is what it means for your day.
- A heat dome tied to the African anticyclone is settling over Serbia, with daytime highs above 35 degrees.
- Cities face tropical nights: outdoor temperatures stay above 20 degrees, while flats remain above 30.
- No real relief is expected before the end of June, with only a brief break of showers possible around June 24.
- Serbia's weather service advises avoiding direct sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Can you count on a cooldown this weekend? You cannot, and it is better to know that right away. Meteorologist Ivan Ristic says a heat dome is settling over Serbia, which in plain terms means scorching weather with no break until the very end of the month.
A heat dome is not your usual summer heat. It is a mass of warm air that, as part of the African anticyclone, gets stuck over much of Europe and simply stays put. The air sinks, heats up, and keeps clouds from forming. The result is a run of days with temperatures steadily above 35 degrees, without the afternoon storm that usually rescues us.
What exactly are tropical nights?
A tropical night is one where the temperature never drops below 20 degrees. It sounds harmless until you try to fall asleep. In urban areas, asphalt and concrete soak up heat during the day and release it at night, so the city barely cools down. Ristic warns that in flats, under these conditions, the temperature stays above 30 degrees even overnight.
That is why sleep suffers, why we get irritable, and why the body never gets time to rest. It hits older residents, small children, and people with heart or blood pressure issues the hardest. If you fall into one of those groups, this is no time to play tough.
Here are a few practical steps you can actually use today:
- Keep windows closed and shaded while the sun is out, and air the place only late in the evening and early in the morning.
- Drink water before you feel thirsty, and skip alcohol and too much coffee, since both dry you out further.
- Light cotton clothing in pale colors works better than any fan.
- If you have no air conditioning, a damp towel around the neck and a lukewarm (not icy) shower will bring your body temperature down.
When does relief come, if at all?
According to the forecast, no real cooldown is expected before the end of June, or even early July. The only bright spot is a brief break around June 24, when showers and thunderstorms are possible. Our advice is not to count on that day too much, because Ristic himself stresses that temperatures climb again right after it.
Serbia’s weather service has already issued clear guidance: avoid direct sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., when radiation is strongest. That window is for shade, not for gardening, running, or long walks. Anything that can wait should wait for the morning or the evening.
Heat like this is not just unpleasant; it can be dangerous if you ignore it. So before you head out today, ask yourself one question: do you really need that errand at noon, or can it wait until the sun lets up a little?
