SARAJEVO, June 25 (Xinhua) -- An intense heatwave is sweeping across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with the threat of devastating forest fires now at its peak, a meteorologist warned on Wednesday.
The Federal Hydrometeorological Institute (FHMZ) has issued an orange-level alert for extreme temperatures nationwide, valid for June 25 and 26. Forecasts indicate daytime highs between 33 and 38 degrees Celsius, with certain areas possibly soaring to 41 degrees Celsius.
This June may go down as the driest since records began, said Bakir Krajinovic, a meteorologist with FHMZ, warning that this relentless wave of heat is expected to persist through the end of the month.
Cities such as Mostar and Tuzla have recorded no rainfall at all so far this month, while most other areas have seen just a single day of negligible precipitation.
Northern BiH is enduring unprecedented heat, with both daytime and nighttime temperatures shattering records. Even a minor cooling forecast for the weekend will leave temperatures lingering around 37 degrees Celsius.
Krajinovic called for urgent water conservation, citing low snowfall during winter and poor spring rainfall as key contributors to the worsening drought. July and August are expected to be even hotter, with temperatures forecast to be 4 to 5 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages, and rainfall projected at less than half the normal levels.
He also stressed that temperatures in direct sunlight are significantly higher than reported, and warned that warm southern winds are likely to bring "tropical nights," posing public health concerns, especially to vulnerable groups. ■
