Several Balkan countries were bracing for highly unseasonal storms and flooding on Wednesday, which will be bad news for agriculture and local tourist industries already suffering from a drop in numbers.

In Romania, heavy rain, causing rivers to overflow, already killed two people in the Olt and Arges counties in the east, according to the authorities. Hundreds of people have also been evacuated after their homes flooded.

Authorities on Wednesday issued an orange code warning for most regions in the south and southeast, while a state of alert was issued for Olt, Teleorman and Arges counties, where more rain is expected in the coming days.

Experts say the heavy rain will hit agriculture hard, as 40 to 60 per cent of vegetable crops in the south of Romania have already been destroyed.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta called a government meeting on Thursday to discuss the situation.

The torrential rain began late last week and continued during the recent days.

Extreme weather has become more common in countries in the region in recent years. Bosnia and Herzgovina and Serbia both suffered exceptional devastation from flooding in May.

Croatia is also bracing for highly unusual summer storms. The meterological service issued a warning of severe weather on Wednesday, predicting heavy rain, hurricane-level winds and possible twisters for the Rijeka and Dubrovnik regions.

“Major damage and accidents may occur over a large area and… pose a threat to life… Be prepared for extraordinary measures,” the DHMZ said.

In north Dalmatia, the region of Zadar was hit on Wednesday by a strong thunderstorm accompanied with heavy rains and hurricane southern winds. Some parts of the old town were flooded, turning streets and squares turning into rivers and lakes.

The islands around Zadar, such as Silba, Ist, Vir and Pag, got the worst of the weather, and firemen have had to pump out basements and clear the fallen trees.

Montenegro is also bracing for trouble. An “orange alert” has been issued in the Adriatic coastal republic in anticipaation of heavy summer storms on Wednesday and Thursday across the country.

Meteorologists say severe thunderstorms and strong winds could cause flooding and structural damage.

“We hope it will not be as intense in Montenegro as in Croatia, but we expect heavy rainfall over the next two days,” the National Weather Bureau said on Wednesday.

Police and the Maritime Safety Authority have warned tourists to stick to official beaches where lifeguards are present.

‘We urge tourists to be careful because changes at sea can happen so quickly,” the chief of rescue services in Budva, Zdravko Sljukic, said.

Serbia is also expecting heavy rainfalls on Wednesday but the country will not face a repeat of the disastrous floods that struck in mid-May, experts said.

“The storms could be very strong and bring abundant showers, hail and stormy wind,” meteorologist Djordje Djuric said. According to Djuric, short-term local flooding is most likely.

Heavy rainfalls will first hit the west and northwest of the country and then move to the east and southeast.

Meteorologists in Bosnia have also issued an “orange” weather warning for Wednesday from 1-8 pm. They warn of heavy electrical showers and hail in the central, eastern and northern areas of the country.

Macedonia is expecting a storm over Skopje in the afternoon hours. The Meteorological Service warned of strong winds, heavy showers and hail, and strong electrical charges in the afternoon.