Sunny up to 35, then storms and hail: RHMZ warns drivers
After a warm, sunny morning, afternoon brings storms with thunder, hail is possible in the west, and border crossings toward the coast are still slow. Here is how to plan your trip.
- Today is variably cloudy and warm, with temperatures from 15 to 35 C, up to 33 in Belgrade.
- Local afternoon thunderstorms are expected, with hail and gusty winds possible in western and southwestern Serbia.
- Waits at crossings toward the coast run up to one hour, and the AMSS urges patience and careful driving.
- Unsettled weather stays until July 20, when the heat above 35 C returns.
Should you set off today or wait? The short answer: leave in the morning, because the trouble piles up after noon. The morning is warm and sunny, but in the afternoon local thunderstorms move across Serbia. In the west and southwest, hail and squally winds are possible, and those are exactly the conditions in which visibility on an open road disappears fastest.
The Republic Hydrometeorological Service (RHMZ) forecasts temperatures from 15 to 35 C, up to 33 in Belgrade. A warning for a very high UV index has been issued for most of the country, so if you plan a rest stop, a cap and water are not a luxury. The unsettled weather, with conditions ripe for storms, stays with us until July 20. Only then does the heat above 35 C return, along with a calmer sky.
What makes this forecast tricky to plan around is how fast it changes. The RHMZ warns that urgent alerts for specific locations arrive only one to two hours in advance. That means a clear sky above you guarantees nothing for the next half hour of driving. So it pays to glance at the radar before you leave and to keep your phone alerts on during the trip.
How do you drive through rain and hail without panic?
The first rule is simple: slow down before you think you have to. When heavy drops or hail hit the windshield, visibility drops within seconds, and the road turns slick in the very first minutes of rain, when dust and oil rise off the asphalt. Turn on your dipped headlights, increase the gap to the car ahead, and avoid sudden steering.
If the hail gets strong, the safest move is to stop. Look for a rest area, a petrol station, or a covered spot, never the hard shoulder except in an emergency. Wait ten to fifteen minutes, since storm cells like these usually pass quickly. Do not park under a lone tree, and do not drive on until the water starts draining off the road, because aquaplaning at full speed can be more dangerous than the downpour itself.
For families with children, our tip is to plan the break in advance, before you set off, rather than improvise it in the middle of a storm. A charged phone, some water, and a bar of chocolate in the glovebox rescue even the most stressful drive.
What is happening at the crossings toward the coast?
If your route heads south or toward Hungary, count on queues. At the Presevo, Horgos, and Batrovci crossings, waits run up to an hour, and the AMSS advises patience and careful driving. Congestion peaks in the evening and at night, when most travellers set off to dodge the daytime heat, so the shortest wait often falls in the early morning.
Before you leave, check the live border cameras and keep an alternative crossing in mind. If Horgos is jammed, a smaller nearby crossing sometimes moves faster. And do not let hunger or thirst catch you in the queue: water, sandwiches, and full air conditioning make the difference between an unpleasant wait and an unbearable one.
Are you driving somewhere today, or staying home until the weather settles?
