Heat Wave Hits Serbia: RHMZ Forecasts Up to 40 Degrees

Are you ready for a week when the thermometer heads toward 40 degrees? If not, you are not alone, because the heat arrives fast and stays for days. RHMZ has sharpened its forecast and announced a multi-day heat wave that brings scorching days and tropical nights.

Today’s forecast already reaches 34 degrees, and through the week the temperature climbs toward 40. With it comes a high UV index and tropical nights, when the mercury does not drop below 20 degrees, so sleep becomes hard too. After the hottest part of the day, some areas can expect showers with thunder and a sudden change of weather, so a day that starts blistering hot can end in a storm.

A wave like this is more than uncomfortable. For the elderly, people with chronic illness, pregnant women and small children, high temperatures are a serious health risk. So these days it is not about fashion or beach plans, but about getting your body through the heat without harm.

How to protect yourself when the mercury heads toward 40?

Practical tip: plan your day around the sun, not against it. Use the hottest stretch, roughly from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., to rest in the shade or in a cooled space, and move errands and walks to the morning and evening.

Here are a few steps you can put to use today:

• Drink water regularly, even before you feel thirsty. Water and unsweetened teas beat fizzy and alcoholic drinks, which dry you out further.
• Wear light, pale, cotton clothing, a cap or hat, and sunglasses. Reapply high-factor sunscreen every couple of hours.
• Avoid heavy physical effort and hard outdoor training at midday. If you work outside, take frequent breaks in the shade.
• Cool the room where you sleep. Lower the blinds during the day, air the space early in the morning and in the evening, and point the fan toward an open window at night.
• Check on your older neighbors and relatives. A single call or visit during the day can mean a great deal to those who struggle with the heat alone.

Signs that your body cannot cope with the heat should not be ignored. Headache, dizziness, nausea, a racing pulse and a sudden stop in sweating are warnings that you should get into the shade at once, drink water, and, if it does not pass, seek a doctor.

What is happening with Strand and swimming in the Danube?

When the heat arrives, the first thought for many in Novi Sad and their guests is Strand. This time a warning comes with it. The Danube at Belgrade’s Strand beach has dropped into the fourth water-quality class, so the authorities recommend caution when swimming.

That is not an automatic ban, but it does mean you should be more careful. Avoid swallowing the water, shower after swimming, and keep an eye on children, who most easily catch a chill or swallow water. If you have open wounds or a weakened immune system, it is better to wait for better quality readings.

For safe cooling, controlled pools, a cold shower at home, or a plain tub of lukewarm water that slowly lowers your body temperature are all good options. Our recommendation is not to turn cooling off into a new problem, because a scorching week calls for patience, not a rush to the first water you find.

A heat wave of this intensity passes more easily when you prepare ahead, rather than when the heat catches you off guard. How do you plan to cool your home and save energy while the thermometer heads toward 40 degrees?