Croatia braces for weather change bringing rain, thunderstorms, temperature drop

(Patria) - The Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) has issued a special announcement stating that significant severe weather may occur across Croatia tomorrow.

"After two mostly dry and predominantly or partly sunny days, a new significant weather change is ahead of us that will affect almost the entire country," they wrote at the beginning.

On Friday (August 4, 2023), a shallow cyclone and frontal disturbances will move across Croatia, bringing a large amount of moist and colder air to the heated ground," they explain.

A pronounced trough in the geopotential field is approaching from Western Europe via Slovenia towards Croatia. In the first part of Friday, our regions will be on the front side of the thermobaric trough, they explain.

By the end of Friday and into the night towards Saturday (August 5, 2023), a high-altitude cyclone will form, creating a cold drop. The axis of the trough, along with the high-altitude cyclone, will move across Croatia during Saturday.

From Friday, a jet stream will also be present at high altitudes (which will intensify processes in the lower layers of the atmosphere).

On Friday, increased cloudiness with rain, showers, and thunderstorms is expected, which will affect the northern Adriatic already during the night and morning, and from midday will gradually spread to most of the country. There is a high probability of thunderstorm severe weather accompanied by strong and stormy winds, and in some places, hail.

Heavy rainfall (locally between 50 and 100 mm, and locally more) will occur primarily in the northwestern and western regions, as well as on the northern Adriatic, and by the end of the day and during the night towards Saturday, in Dalmatia, and locally possibly in the east of the country.

Inland, with more pronounced showers, the wind will be strong and stormy from the north and northeast. On the Adriatic, the wind will be moderate to strong from the southeast, turning to the northwest on the northern part from midday. It will be very warm and hot.

On Saturday, it will be moderately to predominantly cloudy with rain, and in some places, showers and thunderstorms, and noticeably cooler. There may still be heavy rain in places, more pronounced in the northwest of the country and in Dalmatia, especially in the south," they write.

Weather calming only on Sunday

On Sunday (August 6, 2023), the weather will gradually calm down, but occasional rain should still be expected. It is recommended to adjust all outdoor activities to the weather conditions and to follow weather forecasts and warnings about dangerous weather phenomena daily.