National weather services expect temperatures of over 40 degrees in Romania, Serbia and Bosnia this week
ADVERTISEMENTTemperatures across southeastern and central Europe have been soaring with the Serbian National Weather Service (RHMZ) predicting a week-long heatwave with temperatures up to 41 degrees.
It warned that the weather would range from dangerous to very dangerous to people and animals.
According to the RHMZ portal, the worst of the heat wave will hit southern parts of the country.
Romania feels like an ‘oven’
In Romania, the heatwave has returned and is particularly affecting the south and west of the country.
Code orange and yellow warnings are in force until Thursday evening, but meteorologists say it will feel like an “oven” throughout the week.
People living in the south and west of the country are especially struggling to cope with the heat.
One Romanian woman explains that instead of spending time on her terrace she has stayed inside with the air conditioning on.
“I never thought I would go for the air conditioning instead of the summer’s coolness,” she said.
Temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius were felt in parts of the extreme south of the country, with the nights a little cooler.
Romania has already experienced several extreme temperature waves this summer.
People with heart problems are the hardest hit. In Bucharest alone this summer, there were 20% more emergency calls from people suffering in the heat.
Next week it is expected to be a little better and some rain is forecast, however, temperatures will remain above average.
Heat hits Bosnia’s harvest
The severe heatwave and drought are devastating Bosnia’s corn harvest.
Farmers in the grain hub around Bijeljina estimate between 40 and 60% of their crops have been damaged this year.
The country has been hit with three heatwaves this year and farmers can do little more than watch their corn crops wither in the fields.
ADVERTISEMENTExperts say the state of the plants is unusual. “We are at the end of August and corn should have been much greener than this until at least the first ten days of September,” said Stevan Mesarovic, a local agronomist.
Grain farmer Jovica Lazic’s plantations of corn, wheat, barley and oats cover an area of 40 hectares. But this year, they are ready to harvest too soon and he is expecting yields to be much lower than usual.
“What is left is not enough. I think that we lost between 40 and 60 per cent of expected crops,“ said Lazic.
According to Mesarovic, the heat stress has made either the pollen unviable or reduced maize yields.
ADVERTISEMENTThe country had seen almost no rain the whole summer, with daily temperatures hovering between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius for several days in June, July and August.
Temperatures are constantly increasing and are seriously disturbing rainfall patterns. According to Mesarovic, central Europe’s experience is similar to central Spain.
“We have long stretches of hot, dry weather and short spells of intense rainfall. The climate is changing; we already have episodes of extreme weather which are likely to become more frequent in the future,” Mesarovic said.
Some farms have put irrigation pipes in place to water crops like soya beans. But in this punishing heat, even that can’t stop the ground from drying out.
ADVERTISEMENTVideo editor • Melis Ozoglu
