The Croatia heatwave is expected to intensify over the coming days, with temperatures forecast to rise as high as 38°C. According to the latest DHMZ forecasts and heatwave warnings, the weather in Croatia will remain sunny and increasingly hot through the weekend, with red alerts issued for parts of the Adriatic and orange and yellow warnings covering much of the rest of the country.
The Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) expects the heat to continue into the weekend. Residents and visitors are being advised to take precautions, particularly along the coast, where warm nights will provide little relief from high daytime temperatures.
Sunny and hot across Croatia on Wednesday
Wednesday will be sunny and hot throughout Croatia, with maximum daytime temperatures ranging from 32°C to 37°C.
Light to moderate southeasterly and southerly winds are expected inland. Along the Adriatic, the wind will generally be southwesterly, while a northwesterly wind is also forecast over the open sea.
An orange heatwave warning is in force for the Rijeka and Dubrovnik regions. Temperatures may reach around 32°C in the Rijeka region and 34°C in the Dubrovnik region. A yellow warning has been issued for the Split region, where temperatures may also rise to 34°C.
DHMZ advises people to be prepared for the health risks caused by heat and high temperatures, particularly among vulnerable groups such as older people and young children, and to follow the recommendations issued by the relevant authorities.
Temperatures could reach 38°C on Thursday
The Croatia heatwave will become more intense on Thursday, when temperatures are expected to reach between 33°C and 38°C.
Morning temperatures will fall to between 13°C and 18°C inland, while temperatures along the Adriatic will remain considerably higher, ranging from 21°C to 26°C. This means that some coastal destinations may experience very warm nights in addition to intense daytime heat.
Winds will generally be light inland, although a moderate easterly wind is possible in eastern Croatia. Along the Adriatic, a light offshore burin is expected in the morning. It will be followed during the afternoon by a moderate northwesterly wind and a southwesterly wind near the coast.
Heatwave warnings will expand across the country on Thursday. The most serious warning will apply to the Rijeka region, where a red alert has been issued. An orange warning will cover the Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik regions, while the Osijek, Karlovac, Gospić and Knin regions will be under yellow warnings.
For travellers staying along the coast, the most important concern will not be only the afternoon heat but also the high overnight temperatures. In the Split region, temperatures are expected to remain above 25°C during the night, while in the Dubrovnik region they may remain above 26°C. The Rijeka region could see daytime temperatures above 35°C and overnight temperatures above 24°C.
Red heatwave warnings for Rijeka and Dubrovnik on Friday
The period of extreme heat will continue on Friday, when red warnings will be in force for both the Rijeka and Dubrovnik regions.
The Dubrovnik region is expected to experience daytime temperatures above 33°C, with nighttime temperatures remaining above 27°C. In the Rijeka region, daytime temperatures may exceed 34°C, while minimum temperatures are expected to stay above 24°C.
Orange warnings will apply to the Zagreb, Karlovac, Knin and Split regions. The Split region could see maximum temperatures above 35°C and minimum temperatures above 26°C, meaning that visitors should expect both a very hot day and an unusually warm night. Yellow warnings will remain in force for the Osijek and Gospić regions.
According to the DHMZ biometeorological forecast, the weather in Croatia will remain sunny and very hot on Friday, with a particularly serious heat-related health risk along the Adriatic.
Additional care is recommended for young children, older people and people with chronic illnesses.
Croatia heatwave expected to continue into the weekend
Official DHMZ heatwave forecasts indicate that conditions will become even more serious during the weekend.
A very high level of heat-related health risk is forecast for the Rijeka region throughout Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Dubrovnik region will move into the very high-risk category on Friday and remain there over the weekend.
The Split and Zagreb regions are expected to reach a very high risk level on Saturday and Sunday. The same level is forecast for Knin on Sunday, while Karlovac is also expected to move into the very high-risk category by the end of the weekend.
Although the strongest warnings are concentrated along the coast and in several inland regions, some level of heatwave risk is expected across all monitored parts of Croatia by Thursday.
What the heatwave means for visitors
Travellers visiting during the Croatia heatwave should prepare for very high afternoon temperatures and, in many Adriatic destinations, nights that remain warmer than 25°C.
Sightseeing and other outdoor plans may be more comfortable earlier in the morning or later in the evening, while the middle of the day will bring the most intense heat.
Croatia’s Civil Protection Directorate has urged the public to follow official recommendations during the period of extreme temperatures. These include drinking enough fluids, staying in cooled or shaded spaces where possible, wearing light clothing and protection for the head, and avoiding strenuous physical activity between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Children and animals should never be left inside parked vehicles. Civil Protection also advises avoiding heavy meals and alcohol, cooling living spaces and following guidance issued by health authorities.
Residents and visitors should continue monitoring the weather in Croatia and official DHMZ warnings, particularly when travelling between regions, as alert levels will vary and are expected to increase toward the weekend.
