February 3, 2022 - It has been exactly 10 years since we experienced the unforgettable snow day in Split, thanks to Cyclone Gabor in February 2012. A look at the best (and worst) moments. 

Thanks to the legendary Cyclone Gabor, February 2012 will be remembered in Croatian meteorological history. This cyclone was chosen as the largest meteorological event in Croatia in the last 10 years by the Crometeo team.

And now, exactly 10 years have passed since the winter storm of the century in Split and Dalmatia, reports Dalmacija Danas.

The meteorological scenario that day read:

After a short calming of the weather on the night of February 2, Dalmatia was hit by precipitation brought by the upcoming cyclone. Cyclone Gabor brought heavy snow to northern and most of central Dalmatia (it did not fall only in Makarska and the surrounding area), and the situation was complicated in the interior of Dalmatia. On the morning of February 3, Metković measured 27 cm of snow, Ploče 14 cm, Šibenik 10 cm, and Split 8 cm. With the snowstorm in Split, the temperature was -5°C in the morning, and in Šibenik -6°C. The snow continued to fall throughout the day, so at 7 pm Šibenik measured 20 cm of snow, Split and Ploče 14 cm, and Zadar 7 cm.

In consultation with the Protection and Rescue Headquarters, and due to the endangered safety of pedestrians and drivers due to winter conditions, the Mayor of Split Željko Kerum declared it a non-working day ("snow day") for kindergartens and schools in Split, as well as for employees of the city administration and city companies, except for those services that are necessary to control winter conditions.

After the snowstorm, on the night of February 3-4 and during February 4, icy rain fell in central Dalmatia, which brought additional problems. By the end of Saturday, February 4, the rain turned to snow again, and in the evening, Split measured the historic 25 cm of snow, which broke the previous record of 21 cm from January 1979.

Due to the adverse weather, County Prefect Ante Sanader declared a state of emergency in Split-Dalmatia County on February 4, and a natural disaster was declared in Šibenik-Knin County. From February 3-4, icy rain also fell on Pelješac. As a result, nearly 1,000 people were left without electricity, water, and telephone connections, and significant damage was done.

The Cyclone Gabor snowstorm was accompanied by a severe cold that intensified day by day. On Friday, February 3, at 9 pm in Zavižan, with an air temperature of -22 ° C and a stormy east wind of 22 m / s (79.2 km / h), the real cold feel was -41°C. A day later, the highest daily temperature in Zavižan was -20.8°C. In the history of meteorological measurements on Zavižan (since 1954), lower values of the highest daily temperature were measured in just two days.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

April 7, 2021 - The first April snow cover in Split was recorded on Tuesday night as weird spring weather ripped across Croatia. 

It was a historic meteorological evening in Split on April 6, 2021. In the coldest moment of the evening, the temperature at the official DHMZ station, located on Marjan, measured 0.4 ° C (rounded to 0 ° C). This is only a tenth of a degree higher than the absolute minimum for April measured on April 8, 2003.

Snow fell all over the city, but higher city areas were covered, especially in neighborhoods like Visoka and Mejaši. 

Miroslav Lelas / PIXSELL

The peak of the ice wave hit Dalmatia last night at around 9 pm. Snow fell on the entire Split area, including Kaštela. In Inland Dalmatia and  Dugopolje, the snowfall was up to 20 centimeters! 

In Kaštel Gomilica, there was a real snowstorm with hurricane gusts of bura wind up to 120 km / h. Snow also fell along the coast in Vodice, Šibenik, and Brela, reports Dalmacija Danas.

Miroslav Lelas / PIXSELL

Due to strong gusts of wind on the Dinara, the cold was as high as -24 degrees. As the snow fell, the temperature dropped to 0, which is also one of the record low temperatures for Dalmatia at this time of year.

Miroslav Lelas / PIXSELL

Southern Croatia does not remember when the last snow fell in April.

And although it was only a symbolic snow cover, it is the first known snow cover in Split in April in known history, reports Dalmacija Danas.

Until this morning, Dalmatia was cut off from the rest of Croatia. Last night from 10 pm, all traffic from the interior to Dalmatia and vice versa for all categories of vehicles was prohibited, and only this morning at 6 am did traffic open, however only for personal vehicles to the junction Sveti Rok and then state roads through Gračac, Obrovac, and Karin.

Miroslav Lelas / PIXSELL

There is still no passable road to Dalmatia for delivery vehicles, buses, trucks, trucks with trailers, and tractors with semi-trailers, and HAK warns drivers not to drive if they do not have to.

While we wake up to sunny skies on Wednesday morning, at least those of us in Split can say that we experienced a historic meteorological night! 

For more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

Spring, who?

How did you spend your first snow day in Split since 2012? 

The City Office of Split has made a list of recommendations for citizens to advise for the adverse weather conditions coming tomorrow.