Croatia Weather Alert: Snow, Storm Winds and Ferry Cancellations
Heavy rain, thunderstorms and a sharp temperature drop are forecast for Friday, with snow in the mountains and strong bura winds on the coast. Several ferry and catamaran lines are suspended.
Illustration: AI-generated image
A significant weather change is sweeping across Croatia on Friday, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds and even snow in the mountains, according to the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ). Temperatures will drop sharply during the day, and orange wind warnings have been issued for several regions.
In Gorski Kotar and on the northern Adriatic, cloudy skies with rain are expected, locally heavy, with possible thunderstorms overnight and in the morning. The strong southwesterly wind will gradually weaken and turn to the northwest before a strong and stormy bura sets in during the afternoon. Under the Velebit mountain, hurricane-force gusts are possible.
Central Croatia will see cloudy weather with rain, more frequent in the first part of the day, especially in the south. Temperatures will fall to between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius by afternoon. In eastern Croatia, rain is also expected, with the wind shifting from moderate southwesterly to northwesterly, briefly strong with stormy gusts.
Dalmatia will remain warmer, with temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees, but showers and locally heavy thunderstorms are possible. The southwesterly and southerly winds will gradually turn to bura from the north later in the day. In the far south, strong southerly winds will persist for most of the day, with possible severe thunderstorms and heavy rain, and temperatures up to 21 degrees.
In higher mountain areas, rain will turn to sleet and snow in the afternoon and evening. Across most of the country, afternoon temperatures will range from 6 to 10 degrees, while Dalmatia will be significantly warmer.
The stormy weather has disrupted sea traffic. According to the Croatian Auto Club (HAK), numerous ferry, catamaran and boat lines are suspended, including Valbiska-Merag, Zadar/Gaženica–Ist/Kosirača–Olib–Silba–Premuda/Krijal–Mali Lošinj, Šibenik-Zlarin-Kaprije-Žirje, Sućuraj-Drvenik, Dubrovnik-Koločep-Lopud-Suđurađ and Prapratno-Sobra. Several catamaran and boat lines are also affected. Travellers are advised to check with operators before heading to the ports.
Saturday will bring more stable but colder weather, with sunny periods inland and on the coast. Morning frost and fog are possible in the interior. However, clouds will return on Sunday with moderate southerly winds, bringing rain to Gorski Kotar, and by Monday rain is expected in other parts of the country as temperatures rise again.
