DHMZ: A New Normal Is Ahead, Cities Must Change
Heatwave with temperatures up to 40°C shows no signs of easing, as experts warn of increasingly frequent extremes. Nights offer no relief, and urban areas become hotspots of the problem.
Heatwave with temperatures up to 40°C shows no signs of easing, as experts warn of increasingly frequent extremes. Nights offer no relief, and urban areas become hotspots of the problem.
Croatia is currently in the grip of a severe heatwave, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius. The State Hydrometeorological Institute (DHMZ) has activated red and orange weather alerts for much of the country, warning of high and very high health risks.
According to forecasts, maximum daily temperatures will range between 35 and 40°C, with red alerts in effect for the Rijeka, Knin, Split, Dubrovnik, Osijek, Zagreb, and Karlovac regions. "Temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees will persist at least until the end of the week, and very likely into the next," said DHMZ Director Ivan Güttler for Nova TV's Dnevnik. A slight respite with possible showers is expected only from Friday, primarily in the interior, and by the weekend, alerts may be downgraded from red to orange in parts of the country.
An additional problem is the exceptionally warm nights. Along the Adriatic coast, temperatures do not drop below 25 degrees, and Güttler cited Senj as an extreme example, where over the weekend temperatures did not fall below 30 degrees even at night. "The problem is not just the days, but also the tropical nights," he emphasized. Citizens are advised to avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., drink plenty of fluids, and cool their living spaces.
DHMZ climatologist Dr. Sara Ivasić points out that such heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense. "Scientific research estimates that European heatwaves are now two to three degrees warmer than they would be without human-induced climate change," she told Tportal. Statistics confirm this: Zagreb now records an average of 39 hot days per year, nearly double the 21 days recorded from 1991 to 2000. The trend is even more pronounced at the Split-Marjan station, where 66 hot days have been recorded in recent years, compared to 45 previously.
Although the absolute temperature record in Croatia is still held by Ploče, with 42.8 degrees Celsius measured on August 4, 1981, the climatologist does not rule out the possibility of breaking records at some stations. "A value of 35 degrees Celsius, which we currently consider a very hot day, could be closer to 37 degrees in the future climate. At the same time, temperatures around 40 degrees would become more frequent than today," Ivasić summarized.
Director Güttler warns that climate change must be addressed in two ways: reducing emissions through the green transition and adapting to new conditions. He particularly emphasized the vulnerability of urban areas. "Urban areas are especially vulnerable; we have a lot of asphalt and concrete there, and we will have to start rebuilding in line with the new climate," he stated. Planning cities differently, as well as investing in defense against droughts, floods, and fires, is part of that effort.
Güttler also commented on record-low river levels, noting that Croatia currently has no issues with electricity supply. However, he warned that neighboring countries are already experiencing difficulties in power plant operations due to high river temperatures used for cooling. He stressed that a single heavy rainfall would not be enough to replenish groundwater. "This current situation, with problems of drought and low water levels, is temporary; it will stabilize over the next few months. Perhaps this time next year we'll be talking about excessively high river levels," he said.
