Up to 40 °C by Thursday, Then a Shift Arrives
The peak of the heatwave is expected on Thursday, followed by a brief cooldown, but the heat along the Adriatic shows no signs of letting up.
The peak of the heatwave is expected on Thursday, followed by a brief cooldown, but the heat along the Adriatic shows no signs of letting up.
Croatia is bracing for the peak of a heatwave that will culminate on Thursday, with temperatures in some parts of the country nearing 40 °C. According to the forecast by HRT's chief meteorologist Zoran Vakula, a change in weather is expected as early as Friday, bringing showers, thunderstorms, and the bura wind, but the true relief will be short-lived. Due to the exceptionally warm air lingering over the country, the end of July and beginning of August could rank among the hottest two-week periods in recorded history at some measuring stations.
On Thursday, most of the country will see sunny and extremely hot weather. According to data from the State Hydrometeorological Institute (DHMZ), maximum daily temperatures will generally range between 34 and 39 °C. In eastern Croatia, temperatures will start the day at 16 to 19 °C and climb to near 40 °C by the afternoon. The central regions will offer no respite either, with tropical nights and temperatures in larger cities not dropping below 20 °C even by dawn. It will already be very hot before 10 a.m.
Even in Gorski Kotar and Lika, no significant cooling is expected. Maximum temperatures there will hover around 36 °C, while the interior of Istria could reach 39 °C. During the afternoon, local showers and thunderstorms are possible in the interior of Istria and Dalmatia, as well as in parts of Gorski Kotar, but this will not mark the start of a widespread change in weather conditions.
Due to the extreme heat, DHMZ has issued a very high heatwave risk warning for Thursday for Osijek, Zagreb, Karlovac, and Gospić. This risk will ease to moderate in the continental part of the country on Friday, but it will persist longer along the Adriatic. The Rijeka, Split, and Dubrovnik regions remain under a very high heat risk, meaning the cooldown on the coast will not be as pronounced as inland.
The first more concrete signs of change are expected during the night into Friday, August 7, and on Friday itself. The continental part will see less heat and more variable conditions, with local showers and thunderstorms. Some places may experience severe storms, with heavy rain in a short period, strong winds, and hail. Unsettled weather will continue into Saturday, when temperatures should be a few degrees lower than during the peak of the heatwave. However, according to the official forecast, there is currently no basis to claim that temperatures will drop by five to eight degrees across the entire country.
Along the Adriatic, the change will be felt primarily through the wind. From the second half of Friday night through Saturday morning, the bura wind is expected, with strong and occasionally storm-force gusts in the northern Adriatic. Local showers and thunderstorms are possible, but it will remain very warm near the sea, especially in the central and southern Adriatic. In the central Adriatic, the daytime sea breeze will at least slightly temper the heat.
The change in weather will not last long. On Sunday, sunnier conditions are expected again, with a slightly cooler morning, but afternoon temperatures will rise once more. Therefore, it is more accurate to say there will be a temporary reduction in extreme heat rather than an end to the heatwave or a significant cooling. The most likely window for change is from Friday to Saturday, when inland areas will be less hot, while the coast will remain hot through the weekend.
