Ice beast sweeps across Serbia: Stock up on food; Rivers threaten to flood; Total traffic blockages possible

By Wednesday, January 7, during the morning, late morning, and evening hours, freezing rain is expected in southern Bačka, Srem, western and southwestern Serbia, the wider Belgrade area, southern Banat, Šumadija, Pomoravlje, and eastern Serbia. Meanwhile, further increases in snow cover are expected in the north and west of the country, particularly on Tuesday evening and Wednesday.

"Traffic and supply problems for food, heating, and electricity are possible (total traffic blockages possible), as well as significant damage to transmission systems – power lines, pedestrian injuries, damage to trees – including forests, park trees, and individual trees (broken branches). Due to accumulation and freezing, damage is also possible to electric railway systems, cable cars, TV towers, and other antenna masts," the RHMZ website reports.

Warning for the Belgrade area: Freezing rain

During the night from Monday to Tuesday (Jan 5–6) and on Tuesday (Jan 6), freezing rain is expected locally in the wider Belgrade area, with the highest likelihood during the morning and evening hours. Snowfall with a significant increase in snow cover is expected during the night toward Wednesday and on Wednesday, Jan 7.

Rising water levels

• On the Lim River near Prijepolje, water levels are rising sharply and are above the regular flood defense threshold, with a tendency to approach the emergency flood defense level on January 6.

• On the Danube, the Sava near Belgrade, and the Tisa near Titel, water levels are expected to remain below low navigable levels in the coming days.

Shutterstock/Mike_O

Drivers, be careful on the roads

All road users are advised to exercise caution due to wet snow and local occurrences of freezing rain.

According to the RHMZ forecast, it will be cloudy overnight, with rain in most parts of the country, and snow only in the far north of Vojvodina.

Rain may freeze locally on the ground, with the highest likelihood in Bačka, Srem, western Serbia, the wider Belgrade area, Šumadija, Pomoravlje, and eastern Serbia — specifically in Timočka and Negotinska Krajina.

Until Thursday, January 8, it will remain cloudy and mostly cold, especially in the north and west of Serbia, where ice days are expected.

Prinstrkin/www.meteoalarm.rs

From Thursday, January 8, the cold air mass will spread across the entire country, bringing light to moderate morning frost, and locally strong frost on Friday morning.

During Friday daytime, temperatures will rise slightly with increasing cloud cover, which will bring rain in the north in the afternoon and evening, and rain or sleet overnight in other areas.

Over the weekend, temperatures are expected to drop again, with new snowfall mainly in hilly and mountainous regions.