Scorching Heat Grips Croatia: Alarms Blaring Nationwide, Relief Not Expected Soon

Croatia is bracing for continued intense heat as temperatures are forecast to approach 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. Following record-breaking heat at the end of July, the country began August with sunny and uncomfortably hot weather. The State Hydrometeorological Service (DHMZ) has issued warnings for heatwaves across all of Croatia.

On Sunday, a very high danger of heat's impact on health was predicted for the Knin, Rijeka, Split, and Dubrovnik regions. High danger alerts were also in place for Osijek, Zagreb, and Karlovac, with moderate danger for Gospić. Inland areas are expected to see highs between 34 and 39 degrees Celsius, with the possibility of reaching 40 degrees in parts of Dalmatia. Light to moderate northeasterly winds are forecast for inland areas, shifting to southeasterly in the east, while the Adriatic coast will experience a light to moderate bora wind that will turn southwesterly by midday.

Eastern Croatia will be sunny and very hot, with morning temperatures around 18 degrees Celsius and daytime highs reaching 36 to 38 degrees. Moderate southeasterly and easterly winds might offer brief relief mid-day. Central Croatia will also see sunny conditions, with temperatures around 35 or 36 degrees Celsius. Mornings will be warmer than previous days, with some areas around 20 degrees, as moderate northeasterly winds slow down nighttime cooling.

Western Croatia will predominantly be sunny. A slight chance of localized afternoon showers exists in inland Istria. The mountainous regions will have northeasterly winds, while the coast expects a moderate bora, occasionally strong with gusts near Velebit. Southwesterly winds may appear in the afternoon. Morning temperatures in western inland Croatia will range from 14 to 19 degrees Celsius, significantly warmer on the coast, from 23 to 29 degrees. Daytime highs will be between 32 and 37 degrees Celsius.

Dalmatia will experience very warm mornings, with temperatures from 24 to 27 degrees Celsius, and a more bearable 19 degrees inland. Afternoon winds from the sea are expected, and rare showers are not ruled out in the Dalmatian hinterland with cloud development. The far south of the country will be sunny, with daytime temperatures between 33 and 38 degrees Celsius. Nights will be very warm, with lows between 23 and 28 degrees. A significant change in weather is not anticipated until the end of the following week, with sunny and hot conditions likely to persist, and daytime temperatures potentially rising further in places.