As per reports, the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FHMZ) activated a nationwide Red Weather Warning for Friday (28 August), in effect primarily between 1100 hours local time (0900 hours UTC) and 1700 hours local time (1500 hours UTC), due to an intense late-summer heatwave.
• Ambient daytime air temperatures across most parts of the country are forecast to range between 34 degrees Celsius and 40 degrees Celsius, accompanied by sunny skies and light to moderate cloud cover
• Sarajevo is expected to experience mostly sunny conditions, with maximum daytime temperatures reaching approximately 37 degrees Celsius, compounded by urban heat island effects across dense concrete surfaces.
• Southern river basins (Herzegovina) and northern border corridors along the Sava River is expected to record peak regional heat approaching 39 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius, following elevated morning minimums between 20 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius.
• The heatwave is driven by a thermal ridge drawing hot air masses from North Africa over the Balkan Peninsula, with light to moderate westerly and northwesterly winds.
• The affected areas include Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), Sarajevo Canton (Sarajevo), Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (Mostar, Čapljina, Jablanica), West Herzegovina Canton, Zenica-Doboj Canton, Tuzla Canton, Central Bosnia Canton, Una-Sana Canton, Republika Srpska (Banja Luka, Trebinje, Bijeljina, Prijedor, Doboj), Brčko District, southern karst river valleys and northern lowlands.