December 20, 2020 – The 13 winners of the incredibly popular World Meteorological Organization annual competition have just been announced, and two fine pieces of Croatia weather photography are among them. These spectacular images of Croatia weather photography show all 9 Croatian photographs which reached the final in 2020 and all 10 Croatian finalists who similarly stunned the global audience in 2019

Croatia weather photography: the two newly announced winners from the 2020 competition
Photographer: Sandro Puncet Photo taken: Losinj island

Photographer: Zrinka Balabanic Photo taken: Pag island

Thanks to its popularity as a tourist destination, lots of people are now used to seeing beautiful photos of Croatia. Although, the images they usually see are of idyllic beaches, cloudless skies, stunning nature and turquoise blue seas. But, as anyone who knows the country will tell you - and as these photos show - Croatia isn't always like that.

Croatia weather photography: the two newly announced runners-up from the 2020 competition
Photographer: Šime Barešić Photo taken: Drage, Pakostane

Photographer: Mislav Bilic Photo taken: Lapad Peninsula, Dubrovnik

Out of season, Croatia can experience vastly different weather conditions to those advertised in travel brochures and blogs. And, whenever there's a spectacular weather occurrence, usually there's a photographer out there, braving the elements, trying to capture it.

Over recent years, some of the best Croatia weather photography has featured in the annual competition organised by the World Meteorological Organization. 2020 has been no different.

The other five Croatian finalists from the 2020 competition
Photographer: Šime Barešić Photo taken: Drage, Pakostane

Photographer: Sandro Puncet Photo taken: Losinj island

Photographer: Zoran Stanko Photo taken: Geisler Alm, Dolomites, Italy

Photographer: Maja Kraljik Photo taken: Umag, Istria

Photographer: Igor Popovic Photo taken: Rijeka

The winners of this year's competition have just been announced and the two fantastic examples of Croatia weather photography within the top 13 will take their place in the 2021 World Meteorological Organization calendar.

The 10 Croatian finalists from the 2019 competition
Photographer: Danica Sičič Photo taken: Srobreč, Dalmatia

Photographer: Romeo Ibrišević Photo taken: Plitvice Lakes National Park

Photographer: Božan Štambuk Photo taken: Bundek park, Zagreb

Photographer: Miroslava Novak Photo taken: Pribislavec, Međimurje

As well as the two winners, two further examples of Croatia weather photography came in the runner-up category, of which there were 12 in total.

Photographer: Francesca Delbianco Photo taken: Zagreb

Photographer: Ivica Brlić Photo taken: Sava river, Davor, near Slavonski Brod

Photographer: Nataša Šafar Photo taken: Rečica, near Karlovac

Photographer: Romeo Ibrišević Photo taken: Plitvice Lakes National Park

Over 1000 photographs from all over the world were entered in the 2020 competition. The submissions were narrowed down to a final selection of 70 contenders. As TCN reported back at the start of October, no less than 9 examples of Croatia weather photography made it into the final 70, taken by 7 Croatian photographers.

Photographer: Danijel Palčić Photo taken: Pag island

Photographer: Aleksandar Gospic Photo taken: Ražanac

Croatia regularly punches well above its weight in the annual competition, as we can see from these 10 examples of incredible Croatia weather photography that were among the finalists in 2019.

All images courtesy World Meteorological Organisation

ZAGREB September 25, 2020 – The changeable weather in Croatia today is expected to continue for much of the weekend and is the strongest signifier yet that autumn has arrived

Residents of Zagreb today woke to the sounds of thunder and rainfall. It was not altogether much of a surprise. Partially cloudy skies and some rain had been predicted for the days leading up to the weekend. Enjoyably warm temperatures and clear, sunny skies on Thursday 24 September may have signalled a reprieve. However, the weather in Croatia today has taken a turn for the worse. So much so, that the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) have issued a weather warning.

The weather in Croatia today is being influenced by a cyclone that is making its way across northern Italy and is expected to rise north, further into continental Europe. Its consequences are a strong shift in air pressure.

© Robert Marinkovic

How does this affect the weather in Croatia today and what exactly are the weather warnings?

Rain is expected throughout Friday morning, with the likelihood of thunderstorms growing as the day continues. Temperatures in many parts of the country should still remain in the 20s.

The mountainous regions running inland down the length of the Croatian coast will see strong winds and heavy rain. Today is not a day for hiking in the high peaks of the Dinaric Alps. The specific warnings for the weather in Croatia today pertain to possible flooding. So great is the volume of expected rain that low-lying areas of inland Dalmatia and coastal Dalmatia could see some floods. Anyone currently sailing in Croatia would be best advised to stay ashore today. The seas will be choppy and the winds strong.

The changeable weather is sadly expected to continue for much of the weekend and is the strongest signifier yet that autumn has arrived in Croatia. On the highest peaks, some snow may even fall towards the tail end of the weekend. Although we can't promise that next week we will see the return of yesterday's glorious conditions, the weather is expected to stabilise on Monday after the passing of the cyclone and a more even air pressure returns. You can look to put on your hiking boots and unfurl your sails again soon enough.

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