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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As Morski/Daina Dabelic writes on the 13th of November, 2019, hurricane-like storms and a fierce jugo wind that has been giving the Dalmatian coast an intense beating over the last few days has unfortunately knocked down a large number of trees in Mljet National Park.

The nature conservation services of NP Mljet, the Montokuc DVD and the Mljet JVP (fire departments) were engaged in trying to keep on top of and clear the devastated trees yesterday and that action has continued on into today in order to attempt to keep roads and promenades open and clear, especially in case of emergencies, the likelihood of which is of course heightened in these adverse conditions.

''Our services will have a lot of work to do in the coming days as well, given the number of trees that have been taken down, while only the trees which have fallen on the most essential areas are currently being removed.

Stormy jugo winds have also dragged in large amounts of waste from the seashore, which will all need to be rehabilitated over the coming months. The damage to the coastal walls and docks will be assessed after the withdrawal of the sea, as will the ecological dam in the Soline channel, which protects Mljet's lakes from the pollution of waste being dragged in from out at sea.

Major damage to the vessels which belong to this Mljet-based institution and the island's inhabitants has been prevented by great efforts and the 24-hour on-call duty shift from Mljet's park ranger and the technical service.

''We're afraid that such storms, and as such necessary interventions like these will become more and more frequent as a consequence of climate change that we're now experiencing, and each of us should think about how we can help to try to ensure a better tomorrow together,'' they say from the beloved Mljet National Park.

Watch the video of the intense storms here:

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Croatia is one of those countries that many people seem to think is just the coast, and that that coastline is constantly calm, boiling hot, and boasts an always gentle Adriatic sea. People can be forgiven for that thought, and the same is true for many Mediterranean countries that rely heavily on tourism. Think Spain, Turkey and Greece - countries where everyone seems to make the mistake of thinking they're the lands of constant sunshine.

Croatia, for all of the gorgeous weather and seemingly endless hours of sunshine it does boast, is much more than just the coast, and there is much more to the climate of this little country than the beating rays of a harsh, dry sun and the soft lapping of a warm Adriatic.

Bura and jugo are two words that even the most clueless of foreigners will be quick to learn if they spend any time at all along the Dalmatian coast outside of summer. These winds are powerful, indiscriminate and often cause all sorts of material damage. These winds prevent even the most experienced of salty sea dogs and professional sailors from even daring to venture out to sea, and they turn the sparkling blue, usually flat Adriatic into what could be a sight from the middle of a grey, stormy Atlantic ocean within a very short period of time.

Interested to learn more about the winds that batter the Croatian coast? Click here for all you need to know about jugo, a beastly and unforgiving southeastern wind.

The winds affect the sea, and the waves that the Adriatic can produce are quite unexpected indeed. As Morski writes on the 13th of November, 2019, the record for the highest wave on the Croatian Adriatic has now been broken.

The Croatian Hydrographic Institute measured the new, record breaking wave on November the 12th, 2019 at 16:00.

This wave was recorded in the sea near Dubrovnik near the islet of Sv. Andrija. The maximum height of that wave was Hmax = 10.87 metres.

Although lighthouse keepers recorded the passage of a large wave over the top of an eleven-metre-long crane in the late 1980s, this is the first official confirmation that the highest waves on the Adriatic are recorded on this Elaphite island, which lies seven nautical miles west of Dubrovnik.

Officially, the highest Adriatic wave of 10.8 metres in height was measured in February back in 1986. That wave also occurred during an ''attack'' by stormy jugo winds.

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As Morski writes on the 12th of November, 2019, lighthouse keepers from Susac sent the portal a video taken this morning showing what they've been witnessing from their positions as the stormy jugo wind gives the land and the sea a thorough battering.

''Good morning, greetings from the Susac lighthouse,'' say the lighthouse keepers from Susac briefly, adding that in the afternoon, they're expecting orkansko jugo (an even stronger southeastern wind that ravages the Adriatic).

Indeed, if the stormy jugo looks like this on Susac, we can only imagine what it will look like when the waves climb over five, and sometimes even over metres in height, with incredibly strong gusts of south up to seventy knots, as forecasters have announced for this afternoon. Fortunately, lighthouses are very safe at about 100 metres above sea level, but sailors and other boaters are advised not to go out to sea at all.

It's worth recalling that owing to the stormy jugo that is currently giving parts of the coast a beating, a red meteo alarm has been activated for almost the whole of the Croatian Adriatic, which means that the weather is dangerous.

Owing to the adverse weather conditions which are for the most part expected to worsen before long, there have been maritime traffic alterations and interruptions. At the time of this article having been written, the interruptions at sea for ferry lines and other vessels are as follows:

Ferry lines: Sućuraj-Drvenik, Split-Vela Luka-Ubli, Šibenik-Zlarin-Kaprije-Žirje

Shipping lines: Zadar-Preko, Milna-Rogac-Split, Komiža-Biševo, Mali Losinj-Unije-Susak

Catamaran lines: Korčula-Hvar-Split, Ubli - Vela Luka - Hvar - Split, Vis-Split, Split-Bol-Jelsa, Zadar-Premuda-Silba-Olib, Dubrovnik-Mljet-Lastovo

Watch the video of the jugo throwing all of its strength at Susac here:

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more. If you're interested in jugo, why not read this and give Total Croatia Sailing a follow.

As Morski writes on the 9th of November, 2019, some dramatic footage taken of a large waterspout has emerged from the beautiful Elaphite (Elafiti) islands close to the City of Dubrovnik. A Morski reader from the island of Lopud, one of the islands in question, recorded it and claims that it was the largest that has been seen there in recent years, and this one on the video is far from the only one.

''This the largest waterspout (Croatian: pijavica) seen in the last few decades near the Elaphite islands. I took the footage of it from a balcony on the island of Lopud. You can see how today's largest waterspout (and there have been others) can be seen passing between the islands of Šipan and Mljet. The storm is still ongoing. The radar footage shows the front coming across from Italy straight to the Elaphite islands. It looks like a tornado route when hot and cold currents merge and rotation occurs,'' Pavo Noin Lein tells us.

Otherwise, waterspouts are not uncommon for the southern Adriatic area of Croatia, the last major one having been recorded just one day before between the island of Korčula and the Pelješac peninsula.

Waterspouts like this are characterised by extremely strong winds that often exceed hurricane speeds (> 120 km/h), especially if they're fully developed. Estimates of hurricane speeds can be inferred from the damage they cause when they reach the mainland. Therefore, it is clear that there is a great danger of waterspouts like the one in the video engulfing boats or other vessels, or indeed arriving ashore.

The duration of waterspouts is usually up to about ten minutes, but sometimes they do last much longer. In the Adriatic, waterspouts can occur at any time of the year, but most often they happen during the summer and especially in the autumn, when fronts above the still warm sea begin to occur much more frequently.

Although waterspouts are still a relatively rare occurrence, there are, unfortunately, documented  encounters with waterspouts in the Adriatic sea that have ended tragically. 

Watch the video of the Elaphite waterspout taken from Lopud here:

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Oluja for Oluja? Will a drastic change in weather disrupt the extended holiday weekend and Victory Day celebration? Find out below.

The first days of August are forecasted to be a pinch cooler than the end of July, but still a bit muggy. Showers and thunderstorms will be the most common on Friday, when localized storms, hail, and waterspouts in the Adriatic are also likely, announced Zoran Vakula for HRT on August 1, 2019.

The upcoming holiday and extended weekend should still be sunny, though not completely dry everywhere, especially not in the mainland, where showers are possible.

On Friday, showers will be frequent, localized, and more pronounced in continental Croatia, with possible hail. Sun should follow, but it’ll still be unstable with some showers possible primarily in the mountains. Fortunately for many, the heat will subside, and after a warm Friday morning, Saturday will be fresher.

In the new week, however, there is an increasing likelihood of dry weather everywhere.

Friday will also be a bit unstable on the Adriatic as the southern wind jugo makes another appearance, while Saturday will see the northern bura wind and strong northwest wind in the daytime, especially on the islands.

Due to severe storms and thunderstorms, Meteoalarm warnings have been issued for the entire country on Friday. A yellow alert has been issued for the whole country, while an orange alert is in effect for the Istria and Kvarner area.

“There will be showers with thunder in the evening, especially in the afternoon. Be prepared for severe thunderstorms that can cause great damage and protect yourself from lightning. Damage to property and trees is possible. Local torrential floods, storm surges, and hailstorms are possible. There may be interruptions to outdoor activities and traffic,” warns Meteoalarm.

Follow the weather in Croatia at DHMZ.

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Most of Croatia has been stormy recently, and footage from Slavonia has showcased just how damaging it has been.

The weather in Croatia as a whole has been turbulent over the last few weeks, more precisely since May. The month of May was dominated by rain and poor weather conditions, and while we were given a few rays of hope (literally) recently, the weather seems to have taken a turn for the worse once again with grey skies, storms and incredible wind harrassing parts of the country.

As Vecernji list writes on the 9th of July, 2019, in Davor, Brodsko-Posavska County in continental Croatia, more precisely in Slavonia, some truly impressive video footage of the strong wind carrying away everything in front of it was captured.

Heavy storms struck most of Croatia on Sunday evening, with the continental part of the country taking the worst battering. The footage released on Facebook, taken in Davor in Slavonia, shows just how much power the wind had as it destroyed everything in its path.

As stated, this dramatic home video footage was taken in the Davor Municipality in Brodsko-Posavska County, in southern Slavonia, where ''What is this?!" (Što je ovo) and ''Look at this!'' (Vidi ovo) can be heard in the background of the video footage from astonished locals who are clearly taken aback by the sheer strength of the force of the wild wind.

Yesterday, MUP reported that the wind had caused damage and seen some roofs of houses collapse, as well as those of some local commercial buildings in Davor, and several trees had unfortunately fallen victim to the wind, falling down.

In Slavonski Brod, several 112 emergency calls reported the falling of trees, and in the wider area of ​​the county (Davor, Okučani, Stara Gradiška, Bebrina and Slavonski Brod) there has been discontinued electricity supplies due to the wind that has broken electric poles.

Watch the video of the incredible wind in Slavonia, published on Facebook by HR Vrijeme (HR Weather) here:

Ninoslav Blazic

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Palagruža, the Republic of Croatia's most remote lighthouse, can feel like a world all on its own in all types of weather, a rocky paradise under the sun, surrounded by the sparkling Adriatic sea during the warm summer months, and quite the opposite when the seasons turn and the wind blows.

When then the fog and mist descend over Palagruža and the sky turns white, that feeling of total isolation is enough to invoke thoughts of Jack Nicholson's stunning performance all those years ago in Stanley Kubrick's take on Stephen King's book The Shining, a classic tale of an aspiring author slowly losing his mind to isolation.

Croatia's most forbidding area, a far-flung rocky island pushed far away from the mainland, Palagruža isn't really geared up for visits or tourism of any sort, which almost makes this idyllic yet somewhat haunting location more attractive to would-be visitors.

As Morski writes on the 9th of March, 2019, Tomislav Žuvela and his father, upon taking up care of the situation on Palagruža after Vojislav Šajn and Krešimir Tomašić went off on their well deserved break, captured the thick layer of fog which slowly surrounded the largest island of the distant Palagruža archipelago, Vela (or Velika) Palagruža, where a lighthouse was built. Tomislav briefly stated that fog sirens are no longer used there like they once were. Ship crews, in such cases, now rely solely on more reliable, more modern technology.

The fog which slowly engulfed Palagruža is as mysterious as it is beautiful, almost furthering the archipelago's distance from civilisation and creating a sense of isolation that many people simultaneously crave and fear...

Video by Morski HR

If you'd like to watch some drone footage of Palagruža when the skies are clear and the sun is shining, click here. If you've ever wondered what it's like to transport yourself from the heart of Sydney, Australia, and spend one month in this truly bizarre location, find out what it's like to date the lighthouse keeper!

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The weather in Croatia and along the Adriatic can be a little bit, well, all over the place. The calm, deep blue sea is a distant memory on some days as Mother Nature whips up the waves in a way many tourists who are dedicated to visiting only during the summer months have never seen or imagined possible in Croatia. 

We recently reported on the highest waves being recorded since 2004 near Palagruža, Croatia's most remote lighthouse island. We also touched on the story of two surfers who must have had someone watching over them as they somehow managed to survive the wild Adriatic near Umag in Istria, one of them, a Slovenian national, miraculously surviving 24 hours at sea and arriving to call for help at a cafe in Trieste, Italy.

It seems the records just keep being broken by the waves as yet more are recorded during this typically unstable period for the weather in Croatia, the highest wave having been recorded near Sveti Andrija near Dubrovnik.

As Morski writes on the 1st of November, 2018, the Croatian Hydrographic Institute has recorded yet more record waves at their stations in Rovinj, Split, Ploče, and Dubrovnik. The highest, as mentioned, was recorded near the islet of Sv. Andrija, with a peak height of 9.03 metres. While it might appear out of the ordinary at first, such a huge wave being measured near this islet is not that unusual of a phenomenon for the extreme south of Dalmatia. Back in 1988, a wave actually covered the height of the crane that was once place there, once again at an impressive height of eleven metres.

The nine-metre elevated concrete bridges typical of such lighthouse islets were met with waves of exactly that height on several occasions. In one case, according to the testimony of one lighthouse keeper, a boat was lifted up by the sea before being totally destroyed.

These waves are otherwise the highest waves of the last decade, with the Croatian Hydrographic Institute reporting that the maximum wave height measured in Rovinj was eight metres, Split measured a wave of over 3 metres in height, and the station in Dubrovnik (near the islet of Sveti Andrija), the maximum recorded wave height was 9.03 metres.

The aforementioned institute stated that all of this collected and processed data will contribute to increasing the overall degree of safety of navigation in these areas, as well as lead to the creation of updated safety recommendations. This information provides the preconditions for the safe transport of people and goods to the Croatian part of the Adriatic, the management of the sea and underwater resources, and to the defense and the preservation of the environment.

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A Croatian weather app directly from Zadar is gaining in popularity across the country and the wider region.