Spring turns to winter as Croatia braces for snow

Croatia faces a polar blast with snow and bura winds

Despite being springtime, Croatia is set to experience a significant winter blast early next week, with heavy snowfall and strong bura winds forecasted to impact various regions as extreme cold from the North Pole arrives. 

According to the latest data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), snow will begin to fall on Sunday evening, intensifying overnight and into Monday morning.

The heaviest snowfall is expected in mountainous areas such as Gorski Kotar and Lika, while lower-altitude regions may see less accumulation, depending on air temperatures.

In addition to the snowfall, the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) has issued a red weather warning for the northern Adriatic, particularly the Velebit area, due to very strong and stormy bura winds.

Wind speeds are expected to range between 75 and 160 km/h, posing a high risk to safety, especially for seafarers, and potentially causing damage to coastal infrastructure.

Meteorologist Zoran Vakula has indicated that after a few sunny days leading up to the weekend, rain will move in by Saturday evening, first in the interior and later along the Adriatic coast.

Some areas may experience heavy showers with thunderstorms. With temperatures dropping sharply, snowfall is expected, particularly in higher elevations.

Sunday is likely to be noticeably colder than Saturday, with a significant drop in temperatures in inland areas. The strong and stormy bura will create additional difficulties, particularly on the northern Adriatic.

The public is urged to avoid unnecessary travel and to take extra precautions in coastal areas affected by the storm. With ferry disruptions highly likely, those planning trips should check schedules in advance.