Deliblato Sands faces high fire risk due to strong winds and heat

The Deliblato Sands, a unique ecological area in Serbia, faces an elevated risk of wildfires due to a combination of unfavorable meteorological conditions. The Republic Hydrometeorological Service (RHMZ) has issued a specific warning highlighting the dangers expected on Friday and Saturday.

According to the RHMZ, moderate to strong southeastern winds, with gusts reaching up to 14 m/s (50 km/h) starting Friday afternoon, are forecast. These winds are expected to intensify overnight into Saturday, with gusts potentially reaching 15-17 m/s (50-60 km/h) in most parts of the sands, and locally even around 20 m/s (72 km/h).

Compounding the wind threat, temperatures will remain high, with minimums between 20-24°C and maximums around or above 35°C on both days. This heat, coupled with the strong winds, will accelerate the drying of vegetation, creating highly flammable conditions. The RHMZ notes that the predicted wind gusts will be the strongest in the past month, a period that has already seen frequent fires in the region.

While some local rainfall is forecast for Saturday afternoon and Sunday, the RHMZ does not expect it to significantly mitigate the fire risk. High temperatures are predicted to continue in the coming days. The warning primarily targets the Deliblato Sands, where the combination of heat, dry fuel, and strong winds creates the most dangerous scenario. However, less intense but still significant wind conditions are expected in other parts of Serbia.