After several days of exceptionally high temperatures, the Croatia heatwave ends on Wednesday, with cooler air expected to arrive from Thursday.
Although Wednesday will remain very hot across much of the country, weather conditions will begin changing during the afternoon and evening as thunderstorms develop over inland areas before spreading towards parts of the northern Adriatic.
Strong northerly winds are also expected, with locally severe gusts accompanying the change.
Croatia heatwave ends inland, Dalmatia remains under high alert
The Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) continues to issue heat warnings for Wednesday, although alert levels will be lower than on Tuesday in many regions.
Split, Rijeka and Dubrovnik remain under the highest heat warning, while Zagreb, Osijek and Knin are downgraded from the highest to the second-highest level. No heat warnings are currently in effect from Thursday onwards.
Maximum temperatures on Wednesday will still reach 32°C to 37°C, with some parts of southern Croatia approaching 38°C before the cooler air arrives.
Storms expected before temperatures drop
According to the latest forecast, increasing cloud cover from midday will bring showers and thunderstorms, especially across inland Croatia. Some storms may become locally heavy, accompanied by strong winds, while northern parts of the Adriatic could also see unsettled weather by Wednesday evening.
During the night into Thursday, northerly winds will strengthen, and strong bura winds with gale-force gusts are expected beneath the Velebit mountains before spreading along much of the Adriatic coast.
Cooler weather from Thursday
Thursday will bring a noticeable drop in temperatures across Croatia, ending the current heatwave.
Rain and thunderstorms are expected in many areas during Thursday before conditions gradually improve on Friday, when skies should begin clearing and temperatures return to values closer to the seasonal average.
For many residents and visitors, the cooler weather is expected to provide welcome relief after several days of unusually hot conditions and warm tropical nights.
What to expect from the weather if you’re visiting Croatia this week
The second half of the week will bring much more changeable weather across Croatia. Visitors can expect everything from the final days of the heatwave and temperatures above 35°C to thunderstorms, strong winds and noticeably cooler conditions before more settled weather gradually returns towards the weekend.
If you’re spending your holiday on the Adriatic coast, don’t assume every day will follow the recent heatwave pattern. Weather in Dalmatia can be highly localised, especially when it comes to summer thunderstorms, so it’s always worth checking the latest local forecast at DHMZ before planning beach days, boat trips or hikes.
Central and southern Adriatic (Split, Makarska, Dubrovnik and the islands)
Wednesday will remain very hot, with temperatures between 35°C and 38°C in many places. Most coastal areas should stay dry for much of the day, although isolated showers or thunderstorms cannot be ruled out later in the afternoon or evening, especially if storms drift from the inland mountains.
The highest chance of rain arrives on Thursday, when showers and thunderstorms may affect parts of Dalmatia. The weather is not expected to remain unsettled all day everywhere, but visitors should be prepared for periods of rain and locally stronger winds.
By Friday, conditions should improve again, with sunshine returning to most of the coast. Temperatures will generally range between 28°C and 32°C, making outdoor activities and sightseeing much more comfortable than during the recent heatwave.
Northern Adriatic (Istria, Kvarner and Rijeka)
The Croatia heatwave ends earlier in the north, where thunderstorms are expected from Wednesday evening, followed by a noticeable drop in temperatures on Thursday.
Strong bura winds are also expected, particularly below the Velebit mountain, which could temporarily affect ferry services and sea conditions.
