African heatwave hits Serbia Wednesday: up to 42 degrees
The longest heatwave of the summer starts on Wednesday and lasts at least until August 9 or 10. It peaks between August 4 and 7, with up to 42 degrees locally and tropical nights near 25.
- The heatwave begins on Wednesday, July 29, and lasts at least until August 9 or 10.
- The peak is expected between August 4 and 7, with up to 42 degrees locally.
- Overnight lows will sit at 20 to 24 degrees, with tropical nights near 25 in Belgrade.
- A heat stress index above 42 puts the country in the danger zone for heatstroke.
How long will the heat last this time? At least until August 9 or 10, which means close to two weeks without any real relief. That is what separates this spell from the short bursts of heat Serbia has had earlier this summer.
Tuesday is still bearable, with highs of 29 to 33 degrees. From Wednesday, July 29, increasingly hot air starts flowing in from northern Africa and daytime temperatures jump to 34 to 38 degrees. Slobodan Sovilj, a meteorologist at the Republic Hydrometeorological Institute, says that from Friday and at the very start of August temperatures will climb to 35 to 40 degrees, and that this is the most intense heatwave of this part of the summer.
What happens day by day until August 10
A yellow weather alert goes up across most of the country on Wednesday, with orange wherever forecasts pass 35 degrees. Orange is not a formality. It signals dangerous weather conditions and a serious health risk, above all for children, older people, patients with chronic conditions and anyone working outdoors.
The peak falls between August 4 and 7. The highest readings are expected on August 6 and 7, when 42 degrees is possible locally. After that, the first change in the pattern is currently pencilled in for the second half of the first ten days of August.
Nights will bring little comfort. Lows will range from 20 to 24 degrees, and Belgrade can expect tropical nights around 25. A tropical night is the meteorological term for a night when the temperature never drops below 20 degrees. In practice it means the concrete in the city never cools down, so the body never gets a break from the heat either.
That is why forecasters watch the heat stress index, THI, in spells like this. Values of 33 to 41 fall into the increased caution phase, when heat cramps become likely. Above 42 the country enters the danger zone, where heatstroke becomes very probable. Northern Serbia is expected to reach those values as early as the end of this week.
On top of it all comes a long stretch without rain. Dry ground and high temperatures raise the risk of open fires, so burning stubble or weeds over the next ten days is the worst possible idea.
How do you survive a tropical night without air conditioning?
The first step is the simplest and the most often skipped: airing the flat at the right time. Open the windows only once the outside temperature drops below room temperature, usually after 10pm, and shut them early in the morning while the air is still fresh. Keep blinds and curtains down during the day on whichever side the sun hits.
A fan works better with a bottle of frozen water in front of it. Cotton or linen bedding instead of synthetics, a lukewarm shower before bed instead of a cold one, and a glass of water on the nightstand. A cold shower feels great for a moment, but the body responds by boosting circulation and you end up warm again.
The Republic Hydrometeorological Institute warns of heatstroke, exhaustion and worsening symptoms in patients with chronic conditions. The standard advice from the relevant services on days like these is to stay out of the open during the hottest part of the day, roughly between 10am and 5pm, and to adjust working hours for jobs done in direct sun.
If you live with an older relative or someone on blood pressure or heart medication, check in every single day. Heatstroke develops quietly in older people, without dramatic warning signs, and the first symptoms are often confusion and weakness rather than thirst.
How are you planning to get through the next ten days, with air conditioning, a fan, or an escape to the water?
