Bosnia hits hottest year on record in 2024: meteorologists

Sarajevo: After a scorching drought emptied one of Bosnia s largest lakes, the Balkan country is set to mark its hottest year on record in 2024, its I...

Sarajevo: After a scorching drought emptied one of Bosnia's largest lakes, the Balkan country is set to mark its hottest year on record in 2024, its Institute of Meteorology said Monday.

"This year will definitely be the hottest since this data was officially collected," meteorologist Dzenan Zulum told AFP, saying the country has broken its annual heat record for the past three years in a row.

"Compared to the previous year, this year will be warmer, with an increase in the average temperature between 0.5 and 1 degrees celsius, depending on the area," added Zulum.

The average temperature in the southern city of Mostar would be about 17.5-17.6 Celsius, some 0.7-0.8 degrees above 2023, while in Sarajevo the average would be 12.9-13.0 Celsius, about one degree above the 2023 figure, Zulum said.

Bosnia did not get its usual snowfall this year and rains have been below average causing a drought which dried up one of its largest lakes.