When Does the Heat Break? Storms Arrive Monday Afternoon
The heat wave holds until Monday. The first storms hit northern and western Serbia Monday afternoon, followed by the rest of the country Tuesday, as temperatures drop and northwest winds pick up.
When exactly does the heat break? Monday afternoon, starting in the north and west of Serbia. Until then, nothing changes: sunshine, sweltering air and the Kosava wind.
Serbia is mostly sunny today. The morning started at 11 degrees Celsius in the coldest spots, with highs reaching up to 34. Belgrade is sunny, with a southeast wind, as the mercury climbs to around 33 degrees. Winds are light to moderate, though stronger and southeasterly in the Kosava belt, making the day feel somewhat more bearable than the number suggests. In parts of southeastern Serbia, a brief rain shower or thunderstorm is possible later in the day, but that is a local event, not a break in the pattern.
Sunday and Monday stay mostly sunny and hot. In other words, plan the whole weekend around the heat, because it is not going anywhere yet.
What Changes on Monday and Tuesday?
The weather pattern shifts, moving in from the northwest. On Monday afternoon, northern and western Serbia can expect passing cloud cover with short-lived rain and local thunderstorms. Overnight into Tuesday and through the day, the same system moves over the rest of the country, bringing lower temperatures and a stronger northwest wind.
The Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia (RHMZ) describes that part of the week in its seven-day forecast:
A change in the weather is expected on Tuesday, August 18, bringing passing cloud cover, short-lived rain and local thunderstorms
Tuesday, then, is the day the cooler air reaches even the regions that will not see a cloud on Monday. Mostly sunny weather returns from Wednesday, with temperatures climbing gradually again, so this is not the end of summer, just a three-day pause.
How Much Rain Is Expected?
The forecast rainfall totals range from 5 to 25 millimeters. Where a heavier storm hits, local totals could reach as much as 40 millimeters in a short burst. The difference between five and forty millimeters is the difference between dust rinsed off a terrace and water that cannot drain fast enough, so how you prepare depends on where you live.
Fire Risk Remains Even After the Rain
This is the part people tend to skip over when they hear rain is coming. In the same seven-day forecast, RHMZ warns of a high risk of open-air fires starting and spreading, driven by high temperatures and a lack of rainfall. A 15-millimeter downpour in one spot does not change the condition of dry vegetation twenty kilometers away, and the wind that runs ahead of the front blows straight over that same vegetation.
Five Things Worth Doing Before Monday Evening
- Bring in the parasol, light chairs and flower pots from the terrace or balcony. The northwest wind arrives strong, and loose items tip over before the first drop falls.
- Move outdoor work, construction, gardening, painting, to Monday morning, or push it to Wednesday.
- If you are driving north or west on Monday afternoon, expect a wet road surface and reduced visibility during the storm.
- Save open fires, outdoor barbecues and burning weeds for after the weather changes. The fire warning is still in effect.
- Plan for Wednesday to be warm again. The sun returns, and temperatures climb gradually.
Earlier this week we reported that the heat would ease by Saturday and advised on what to do during the hours between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. That estimate has since shifted: the heat wave holds through the weekend, and only the front moving in on Monday afternoon breaks it. Our advice is simple, get through the weekend by the usual heat rules, and save Monday afternoon for indoor tasks.
