Serbia faces record cold: -21°C, a first in 40 years

As Ivan Ristić emphasized, January could bring heavy snowfall and temperatures not seen in 40 years.

"This is the first time my IRIE model predicts -21°C for Belgrade Airport on the morning of January 5, 2026. This is the latest output of the model, powered by AIFS artificial intelligence. Heavy snow and temperatures like those from 40 years ago—a return to the past," he stated.

Latest warning from the RHMZ

For reference, the Republic Hydrometeorological Institute (RHMZ) issued its latest warning for Serbia early this morning regarding the formation of snow cover during the day on December 25. According to the warning, the heaviest snowfall is expected in the eastern part of the country.

• Snow showers are coming

 

According to the latest forecast from the RHMZ, snow will fall throughout most of the day in eastern Serbia, with an average snow cover of 10 to 20 centimeters expected in the lowlands of the Timok and Negotin regions.

"In the mountainous areas of the Carpathian region, over 30–40 cm of snow is expected, and snowdrifts may form due to increased winds," the RHMZ notes.

In other parts of Serbia, especially in regions south of the Sava and Danube rivers, snow cover is also expected, but at a much lower intensity.

Snowfall in these areas will be most pronounced in the morning and late morning hours, while intermittent pauses in precipitation are expected throughout the day, according to the RHMZ.