Atlantic cyclone to hit Balkans with violent winds and first mountain snow on Nov 13
A west-to-east Atlantic system will bring heavy rain and gusts on Nov 12, followed by a 15–20°C temperature collapse and mountain snow on Nov 13.
A powerful Atlantic cyclone approaching from the west will sweep across the Balkans this week, bringing a first phase of violent winds and heavy rain followed by a fast, severe temperature collapse that will turn autumn into winter in many areas.
Storm on Thursday, cold and snow from Friday
Meteorological services across the region have issued urgent warnings: the most critical moment is expected on Thursday, November 12, when the Atlantic system will deliver intense rain and destructive winds. On some localized spots more than 100 litres of rain per square metre may fall in a short time, creating a real flood risk, traffic disruption and damage to infrastructure.
Well-known meteorologist Slavcho Poposki has urged residents to prepare. He warns that on Thursday, November 12 the cyclone will produce heavy rains and hurricane-strength gusts exceeding 110 km/h, especially along the Adriatic coast and in parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and northern Albania.
Immediately after the stormy first phase a second, colder surge will arrive. A mass of much colder air descending from northern latitudes is expected to trigger a rapid thermal shock: temperatures will plunge within hours, turning many autumn conditions into winter.
Poposki summarized the expected change: "Because of the influx of much colder air from the north, on Friday (13 November) in the afternoon and evening in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro temperatures will abruptly fall by 15 to 20 degrees. In mountainous locations above 1,000 metres there will be heavier snowfall with the formation of a snow cover of 15 to 20 centimetres, and the possibility that the snowline will descend into lower settlements is not excluded."
By the weekend temperatures across much of the Balkans will be close to or below zero at places, raising the risk of frost. Regional forecasts point to a likely first substantial snow on the higher mountains in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina — Kopaonik, Zlatibor, Jahorina and Bjelašnica — already on Friday, November 13, with 15–20 cm of accumulation; similar conditions are expected for the mountains in North Macedonia.
Photo: press material from the event
