Todorovic: Heat Until Friday, No Early Heating
Meteorologist Nedeljko Todorovic forecasts heat through Friday, a mild weekend dip and the first autumn fog in the valleys. He says September won't push the heating season forward.
Should you start thinking about turning on the heat? Not yet. Meteorologist Nedeljko Todorovic says Serbia is in for temperatures as high as 31 degrees Celsius through Friday, and that this September’s heating season won’t have to start early the way it did last year.
Last week we reported on Monday’s rain and a forecast for 30 degrees by Wednesday. The forecast Todorovic gave today goes a step further, laying out a day by day outlook through the end of the month and giving the first clear answer to a question many are asking as mornings turn cooler: whether the heating has to come on sooner than usual.
Which days will be hottest
In a forecast for Kurir that he also gave for RTS, Todorovic laid out the following schedule:
- Wednesday, September 16, sunny and warm, with local morning fog or low clouds in the valleys of southwestern and western Serbia
- Thursday and Friday, September 17 and 18, the hottest days, with highs of up to 30 degrees in some areas
- Saturday and Sunday, a mild drop in temperature with occasional, brief rain or showers, no significant accumulation
- from Monday or Tuesday of next week, another mild drop and isolated showers, mostly in the west, southwest and south
On the fog that settled over the valleys this morning after yesterday’s cooldown and rain, Todorovic said:
That’s perhaps the most significant event, or let’s say, almost the first fog of this autumn.
He isn’t forecasting anything dramatic for the rest of September:
Pleasantly moderately warm weather. Maybe on some days, only every fourth or fifth day, if there’s a bit more cloud cover or a little rain.
He added that temperatures will mostly stay around average or a degree or two above it.
Will the heating start early
It’s a question that comes back every autumn, ever since last September’s sudden cooldown pushed the heating season forward. This time Todorovic rules it out, but only in part:
Not in September. As for October, that’s too far off, I wouldn’t dare say. Just in case there’s some surprise and things get a bit more intense within a few days, like last year.
In other words, he’s confident about this month. He isn’t promising anything for the next one.
What RHMZ says, and where the numbers differ
The forecast from the Republic Hydrometeorological Service (RHMZ), updated today at 5:35 a.m., calls for a Wednesday morning of 10 to 15 degrees and a daily high of 26 to 29 degrees, 29 in Belgrade. RHMZ’s table for today puts Kopaonik at 16 degrees and Zlatibor at 21, while Thursday, September 17, is listed as the hottest day, with Nis reaching 32 degrees.
That’s also where a small discrepancy in the numbers shows up. For the Wednesday to Friday stretch, Todorovic gives a range of 25 to 31 degrees. RHMZ, in the forecast Republika carried on September 15, put the same days at 26 to 32 degrees. The gap is small, but it’s there, and it’s worth noting rather than quietly picking one number over the other.
RHMZ also forecasts heavier cloud cover in the evenings and overnight in the north and west of the country, with brief showers through the start of next week, which lines up with Todorovic’s outlook.
What this means for you
The upside this week: days still feel like summer, so light clothing and short sleeves will do from noon into the afternoon. The downside: mornings are cool, so a jacket or long sleeves in your bag is still a smart call, especially if you’re heading out early.
A few concrete points for this week:
- Don’t rush the heating. Both Todorovic and RHMZ agree that September is staying warm, so there’s no reason to start the season early.
- Plan around the morning fog. If you’re driving through the valleys of southwestern or western Serbia, expect reduced visibility in the early hours, especially on Wednesdays.
- Keep a backup plan for the weekend. The milder temperatures and occasional rain mean it’s worth having an alternative for outdoor plans, not that you need to change them in advance.
- Watch both sources. When the meteorologist and the official forecast differ by a couple of degrees, treat the higher number as possible, not certain.
Our take is simple: enjoy these warm days, keep a jacket within reach for the mornings, and don’t worry about the heating before October. Todorovic is clear that, for now, there’s no forecast for that month at all.
