Welcome to the Balkans 2024, where summer isn’t just hot – it’s hellish! While most of the world complains about heatwaves, the Balkans have taken it up a notch, smashing records that stood for over 100 years. Sarajevo hit a scorching 38.8°C, marking the hottest June day in decades. But wait, there’s more – Skopje went even further, reaching a staggering 41.7°C, breaking the 1950 record by 0.6 degrees! Yes, you read that right, 41.7°C in June!
In Serbia, Belgrade and Novi Sad also suffered through a furnace with temperatures over 38°C, while the infamous record holder was the town of Ćuprija with a blistering 40.7°C. What about the rest of the region? Podgorica and Zagreb also recorded their hottest June days, while Ljubljana saw daily records fall.
But the real drama is in Mostar, where temperatures soared to an unbelievable 42°C! It’s so hot that even railway tracks warped, causing train traffic to halt. Fires rage on, and firefighters battle flames in inaccessible terrain, using the specialized Air Tractor plane from Osijek for the first time.
These temperatures aren’t just numbers – they’re a wake-up call about climate change hitting us faster than expected. Tropical nights, temperatures up to 10 degrees above normal, and more frequent heatwaves are becoming the new reality of the Balkans. If you think this is just a bad phase, think again – scientists warn the situation will only worsen without urgent and ambitious action.
So, while you’re sweating and hunting for shade, remember this isn’t just a slightly hotter summer. This is the new normal for the Balkans, where thermometers break and nature sends clear signals. What do you think – is this just the beginning, or will we soon be frying eggs on the asphalt? Drop a comment, let’s see who’s ready for the hellish heat and who’s already planning a move to Antarctica!
