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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August 3, 2019 - When the forecasts projected a change in weather this weekend, they weren’t kidding around. A look at how this summer storm swept through the Split area.

A rumbling thunderstorm with powerful and blustery winds ripped through the Split area around 10 pm on Friday. The air temperature dropped to just 19 degrees Celsius in a short time - for comparison, the highest daily temperature on Friday was 32 degrees Celsius, Slobodna Dalmacija reported.

“It came from the northwest and descended to Dalmatia. The announced front is crossing our area,” confirmed DHMZ in Split on Friday evening. 

The highest recorded wind gusts in the Split area were 104 km/h, according to DHMZ.

People were warned not to go outside, and those who found themselves outdoors were asked to seek shelter as soon as possible. 

However, on a Friday night in the peak season, we know that’s an impossible ask. 

A look at the scenes on the Split Riva on Friday.

"There was panic in the city. The outdoor terraces were cleared within minutes. Guests ran away without paying their bills," one reader told Slobodna Dalmacija.

The storm also turned one building in the Pujanke area of Split into the house of horrors!

At the nearby Star Village of Mosor, Crometeo measured hurricane-like gusts of wind up to 148 km/h!

The wind carried garbage containers into parked cars.

And made everyone in the warmth of their homes thankful they chose not to go out that night.

After the storm, the Center 112 received numerous calls from citizens reporting fallen trees on the roads, while some reported that they were trapped in an elevator because some parts of the city briefly ran out of power, reported Slobodna Dalmacija.

Some facilities were left without roofs, and most of the calls came from Split, Solin, and Kaštela.

Many calls for help from the sea were also received Friday night.

“We have a lot of calls, and just in the area of ​​Split we have reports of five accidents, and maybe 20 in the whole Adriatic,” said the Port Authority of Split on Friday. No injuries had been reported on Friday night, though more information will be known on Saturday morning. 

The KulaKula festival was also held in Trogir on Friday night in Kamerlengo castle. The storm hit as local favorite Vojko V was on stage. The storm cut out the sound, but Vojko boldly continued his concert in an unplugged version. 

However, the storm became worse and started to pick up chairs, umbrellas, equipment, and branches. The audience then began running away from the concert venue, and as one Dalmacija Danas reader said, there was a lot of panic on the way out.

Fortunately, the weather forecast for Saturday is looking much more favorable.

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Yesterday's freak hail storm toted more problems than we thought.

Did you SEE that?