A major change in weather is coming to Croatia ahead of the Christmas holidays, with the most precipitation expected on Christmas Eve, when a frontal disturbance will move across our region, and noticeably colder air will flow in from the north, warns the State Hydrometeorological Institute.
On Tuesday, rain will fall mainly on the Adriatic and the areas adjacent to it, primarily on the islands in the form of showers with thunder. Although the probability is low, in Mountainous Croatia the rain may freeze in contact with the ground or on cold objects. The south wind will blow moderately and strongly, strengthening to stormy in the evening. Towards the end of the day, a bora will blow in the northern part of the Adriatic, with gusts in places, according to a special statement from the DHMZ.
On Wednesday, Christmas Eve, precipitation will be more frequent inland. During the night, with the colder weather in Gorski Kotar and Lika, the rain will turn into sleet and snow, creating a snow cover. There will also be snow in the highlands of eastern and central Croatia, but it is also likely in some places in the lowlands, primarily in the northwest of the country, and the creation of a thinner snow cover is not ruled out.
In the inland areas, a moderate northeasterly wind will blow, and in the highlands it will be strong, so blizzards and snow flurries are possible throughout Mountain Croatia. The bora wind will strengthen in the northern Adriatic, with gusts that will be stormy and hurricane-force in places, and further south, along the Dalmatian coast, the south wind will continue to blow mainly, still stormy in the morning.
On Christmas Day, the Adriatic will already have frequent sunny periods and it is rare for rain to fall, mostly in small amounts. Inland, cloudy weather is still expected with occasional precipitation, but increasingly rare. In addition to rain, sleet and snow will also fall, mostly in the mountains. In the evening, the wind inland will weaken. In the Adriatic, a strong bora will gradually spread along the entire coast, locally it will be stormy at times, and in the northern part it will still be hurricane-force.
On Friday, the feast of Saint Stephen, the influence of the anticyclone will strengthen, and the weather will calm down. In most parts of Croatia, precipitation is expected to cease and clear up, clouds will linger in Mountainous Croatia, and the bora will weaken on the coast. This will probably be the introduction to a stable, mostly sunny weekend on the Adriatic, but foggy and cold mornings should be expected inland.
Due to strong and stormy winds, first the southerly wind and then the bora, in the mountains and due to snow, traffic restrictions and difficulties are very likely.
The Meteorological Department therefore recommends daily monitoring of weather forecasts and warnings of dangerous weather phenomena.
Photo: Ivana Topic
