Serbia and Balkans face heat wave with temperatures up to 43°C

Balkan heat wave temperatures 43°C tropical nights water consumption surge health risks dehydration

A strong heat dome is moving eastward across the Balkans, bringing daytime temperatures of 40‑43 °C to Serbia, Bosnia‑Herzegovina, Slovenia and surrounding areas. Meteorologists warn that tropical nights will keep nighttime lows above 22‑26 °C in major cities, limiting relief for residents.

Health officials stress that children, older adults and people with chronic illnesses are the most vulnerable groups, with heightened risk of dehydration, heat‑stroke and sun‑burn. The heat wave also strains the power grid and raises the danger of fast‑spreading wildfires.

In Serbia’s city of Niš, water demand has surged, with peak consumption reaching 1,800 L s⁻¹. The municipal water company JKP Naissus says supplies remain adequate but urges citizens to limit non‑essential use such as garden watering and pool filling. A similar warning was issued for the Rzav river basin, where flow fell to 650 L s⁻¹, prompting local officials to ask residents to restrict water use to drinking and hygiene needs.

The Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia has issued a red weather alarm, forecasting temperatures of 35‑40 °C and UV indices of 7‑9, and advises staying in shade, staying hydrated and avoiding outdoor activity during peak heat.

Entities: Arilje municipality · Balkans · Black Glass · Dr Milan Dimitrijević · JKP Naissus · Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia (RHMZ) · Severe Weather Europe · heat dome

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 2 SOURCES] Temperatures in Serbia are expected to exceed 40 °C during the heat wave. (Dr Milan Dimitrijević; Severe Weather Europe)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The heat dome is caused by a high‑pressure system trapping warm air from North Africa over central Europe and moving eastward. (Severe Weather Europe)
[● 3 SOURCES] The heat wave increases risk of dehydration, heat stroke, and wildfires. (d96bd342-b479-46cb-b27f-a73632251da1, 4ff90f63-74db-4909-b386-449b05df3513)
[● 2 SOURCES] Nighttime temperatures in major Balkan cities may stay between 22 °C and 26 °C, limiting cooling. (4ff90f63-74db-4909-b386-449b05df3513, 71ad000b-5578-42da-8655-be1ea61a714c)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The heat dome is expected to bring temperatures up to 43 °C to parts of the Balkans. (Severe Weather Europe)
[● 2 SOURCES] Children, elderly people, and chronic patients are the most vulnerable groups during the heat wave. (382e9aaa-f95e-4191-b29d-692355a0bfbf)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Black Glass's thermal insulation films can block up to 80 % of solar heat and over 99 % of UV radiation. (Black Glass promotional material)
[○ 1 SOURCE] In a test, car seat temperature without the film reached 86 °C, while with the film it was about 40 °C lower. (SAT TV program test)
[○ 1 SOURCE] JKP Naissus reports no current water restrictions but urges rational water use. (7c7f21f9-b624-434c-a18e-77a351ce6e13)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Peak water consumption in Niš reached 1,800 L s⁻¹ during the heat wave. (7c7f21f9-b624-434c-a18e-77a351ce6e13)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Serbia's meteorological service issued a red weather alarm forecasting temperatures of 35‑40 °C and UV index 7‑9. (c44d7bfb-7388-4adc-95ae-d0e1c1a116f9)
[● 2 SOURCES] Temperatures in Serbia are expected to reach up to 40 °C on 5‑6 August 2026. (d96bd342-b479-46cb-b27f-a73632251da1, 5bcc6386-35fc-427b-861b-46a2c59cfaa0)