Rijeka Hottest in Croatia for Second Consecutive Day, 39.9 Degrees Recorded
Red weather alert for Zagreb and Rijeka regions, warning extends to the east of the country from Tuesday with forecast 40 degrees.
Red weather alert for Zagreb and Rijeka regions, warning extends to the east of the country from Tuesday with forecast 40 degrees.
Croatia continues to battle an extreme heatwave, and according to data from the State Hydrometeorological Institute (DHMZ), Rijeka is the hottest city in the country for the second day in a row. After Saturday's 39.6 degrees, a new record of 39.9 degrees Celsius was set on Sunday.
Right behind Rijeka, Zadar Airport ranked second with 39.6 degrees. Third place went to the Rijeka Airport station with 39.3 degrees, followed by Rab with 39.2 and Pula with 38.8 degrees Celsius.
The rest of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County also experienced unbearable heat. Mali Lošinj recorded 38.6 degrees, Senj 38.4, and Kukuljanovo 37.5 degrees. It was slightly more bearable in Bakar with 36 degrees and Delnice with 31.6. For comparison, the maximum temperature at Zavižan reached only 26 degrees.
DHMZ explains that maximum temperatures are read in a meteorological shelter two meters above the ground, at 7 PM, for the past 12 hours. This means that in real conditions, in the sun and on asphalt, temperatures certainly exceeded 40 degrees. This is confirmed by the automatic measuring station at Rijeka's Podvežica, which is not part of the DHMZ network, and which recorded a maximum of 41.1 degrees on Sunday.
Due to extremely high temperatures, DHMZ issued a red warning for Monday for the Zagreb and Rijeka regions. For Zagreb, the highest daily temperature is forecast above 36°C, while Rijeka expects above 36°C, with exceptionally warm nights with a minimum of 25°C.
An orange warning is in effect for the Karlovac, Gospić, Knin, Split, and Osijek regions, where daily temperatures will range between 34 and 38 degrees. However, the worst is yet to come for eastern Croatia. From Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the warning for eastern Croatia will be raised to red, and temperatures could climb up to 40 degrees Celsius.
Morning measurements show no respite. At 8 AM on Monday, the warmest was Kukuljanovo with 30.2°C, followed by Split with 29.3°C and the islet of Sv. Ivan with 29.0°C. In Rijeka and Pula, 28.8°C was recorded at the same time. The freshest was at Plitvice Lakes with 18.1°C, Zavižan with 19.1°C, and Gospić with 19.2°C.
DHMZ warns citizens to take protective measures, especially for children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses. Heat can also cause infrastructure failures. Doctors advise avoiding outdoor activities between 10 AM and 5 PM, drinking plenty of fluids, wearing light clothing, and cooling rooms by ventilating at night and lowering blinds during the day.
