Weekend instability over North Macedonia: rain, thunderstorms and chance of severe storms (Sept 19–20)

Meteorologist Slavcho Poposki warned that the atmosphere over North Macedonia will become unstable during the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, 19–20 September, while temperatures remain above average for the time of year.

He said: "Weather will be changeably cloudy and warm with sunny periods, and a light to moderate wind from a variable direction will blow. On Saturday (19 September) locally, and on Sunday (20 September) in more places in North Macedonia in the afternoon hours there will be development of unstable cloudiness accompanied by heavy rain, thunder and strengthened wind.

"Locally the atmospheric processes may be more intense and in the form of severe storms, accompanied by heavy downpours, strong wind, electrical discharges and with conditions for hail to appear.

Forecast details

Poposki added that parts of the Skopje region and the surrounding basin will also have conditions for unstable cloud development in the afternoon hours this weekend, with showers, thunderstorms and gusty wind.

Morning temperatures are expected to fall between 9 and 17 degrees Celsius, while in Skopje and nearby areas mornings will drop to around 16 °C. Daytime maximums should climb between 26 and 32 °C; in Skopje the highs may reach about 32 °C.

Winds will generally be light to moderate from variable directions, but locally gusty and stronger winds can occur with the more intense storms. There is a possibility that some afternoon cells develop into severe storms with heavy rain, lightning and hail.

Photo: press material from the event