Croatia - Weather

Croatia Weather for Sailors

On the coast is a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and sunny, dry summers.

During ‘transition’ season (May) there is a chance you may experience the bora, a cold, dry wind from the NE that appears with little warning and can reach gale force in just a few hours. The bora is caused by cold air from the mountains falling to the sea and is most common where mountains over 600m are within 3km of the coast. While it happens throughout the Adriatic, the areas where the bora is felt most strongly in Croatia are Zaton Zuljana (on the south side of the Peljesac peninsula), near the mouth of the Neretva river and in Kanal Malog Stona.

The eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea is among the world locations especially endangered by meteotsunamis. The best known was the Great Vela Luka Flood of 21 June 1978 in Croatia, likely the strongest known meteotsunami in the world, with wave heights of up to 6 meters. Whilst, not a regular occurrence, they are very difficult to predict and can (if extreme) cause chaos. The sea level can increase and decrease dramatically in a  matter of minutes. They are “atmospherically generated waves that amplify as they shoal and then resonate in bays and harbors” and can cause flooding and damage to vessels in port and at anchor.

Croatia Weather Forecast Links

Harbour Masters broadcast a running weather forecast every 15 minutes in Croatian, English, German and Italian as follows:-

• PULA: VHF Channel 73 - North Adriatic - West coast of Istria
• RUEKA: VHF Channel 69 - North Adriatic - E port
• SIBENIK: VHF Channel 73 - Central Adriatic - E port
• SPLIT: VHF Channel 67 - Central Adriatic - E port
• DUBROVNIK: VHF Channel 73 - South Adriatic - E port

The Hydrological and Meteorological Service broadcasts shipping forecasts via coastguard stations, with 24-hour information about the weather by region, three times a day in Croatian and in English by Radio Rejika, Radio Split and Radio Dubrovnik.

• Radio Rijeka broadcasts a UTC forecast at 0535, 1435, 1935 GMT on Ch. 4, 20, 24 and 81.
• Radio Split broadcast at 0545, 1245, 1945 GMT on Ch. 7, 21, 23, 28 and 8.
• Radio Dubrovnik broadcast at 0625, 1320 and 2120 GMT on Ch. 4, 7 and 85.

Radio and television broadcasts can be picked up in marinas. You can also check the following weather websites:

• Hydrological and Meteorological Service - http://meteo.hr
• Adriatic marine forecast :: BORA

Last updated:  April 2025