"Lucifer" in Montenegro: The peak of the heat wave on Wednesday

"Lucifer" has arrived in Montenegro. The heat wave that affected most of Europe due to extreme temperatures that often exceed 40 degrees is the reason for the increased workload in the Podgorica emergency room.

"In these summer conditions, a lot of patients come with symptoms of sunstroke, heatstroke, with an exhausted general bad condition, whether they are younger or older patients who have, under the signs of the allegations, started health", said Miloš Ivanović, doctor of the emergency department.

The Podgorica ambulance performs more than 270 interventions per day, of which about 50 are on the ground.

The peak of the heat wave is expected tomorrow (Wednesday) when the center of the African air will be over our regions.

"In the coming days, temperatures of 36-37-38 degrees in the Zeta and Morača valleys are expected in the north of the country, from 40 to 42 degrees. The weekend will see a gradual slight drop in temperature, and the beginning of next week will be marked by some more acceptable temperatures," said Dušan Pavićević , meteorologist and head of the Weather Center of Television Vijesti.

Due to the extreme heat, doctors warn citizens not to spend time outdoors and to stay in air-conditioned rooms where the temperature does not drop below 28 degrees with mandatory ventilation.

"Certainly hydration, a minimum of 2,5 liters of liquid, to sip water in smaller quantities, to avoid going outdoors where there are direct sunlight in the period from 10-11 a.m. to around 17 p.m., if there is no need," Ivanović said.

Today was the 67th tropical day of this year, and since the average is 77 tropical days, there is no doubt that this year will be well above the average in terms of the number of tropical days, according to Pavićević.

If temperature records continue, 2024 could become the second warmest year on record.

"When we look at the first seven months, this is the second hottest, and now we will see what will happen in the rest of the year, there is still quite a bit until the end of the year, but this summer will certainly be recorded as one of the ten hottest," said Pavićević.

"Lucifer" hit the Balkans the hardest, so its consequences are felt throughout the region. Fires are active in almost all neighboring countries, and in the wider region, Greece is the most threatened.