Croatia has significant climatic differences due to its geographical conformation. Along the Dalmatian coast and in the Istrian peninsula the climate of Croatia is tempered by the influence of the Adriatic Sea and is mainly of the Mediterranean type, with mild winters and hot and dry summers.
THE MOUNTAINS BLOCK THE INFLUENCES OF THE SEA
The mountains of the Dinaric Alps act as a barrier to the mitigating influences of the sea. So in the areas east of the mountains, then in the hilly and flat areas of Slavonia, in the area of the capital Zagreb and along the courses of the Sava, Drava and Danube, the climate of Croatia is continental with rigid and snowy winters, and very hot summers.
In the internal areas there are average minimum temperatures below zero during all the winter months, between December and February. This area is also characterized by the blowing of strong winds, including, during the winter, the famous Bora. In this area the rainiest months are summer and autumn.
Mountains receive the greatest amount of rainfall. Along the Dalmatian and Istrian coast the climate is Mediterranean with mild temperatures and more intense rains in the winter months. In the Dalmatian islands and in the southern coast of the country the maximum insolation values are recorded. The island of Lesina (Hvar) has an annual average of 2.674 hours of sunshine.
The temperatures of the localities of Croatia depend on their position with respect to the mountains and the exposure to winds. The temperatures increase proceeding from west to east and from north-west to north-east.
The coldest month is January with an average temperature of -2 ° C inland at 5 ° C in coastal regions. The hottest month is July with average temperatures of 15 ° C in the interior and 24 ° C in the coastal regions. In some places on the plains of the interior, sometimes, during the summer, values above 30-35 ° C are recorded.
WHEN TO GO TO CROATIA
The best months to visit Croatia are between April and September, these are the months when the weather is warmer and the days are longer.
THE CLIMATE OF CROATIA: CLIMATE TABLES
CLIMATE TABLES: ZAGREB
ZAGREB (158 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days (snowy days) |
January | -3,0 | 3,7 | 43,2 | 9,8 (10,3) |
February | -1,8 | 6,8 | 38,9 | 9,4 (7,1) |
March | 1,6 | 11,9 | 52,6 | 11,0 (1,8) |
April | 5,2 | 16,3 | 59,3 | 13,0 (0,2) |
May | 9,8 | 21,5 | 72,6 | 13,5 |
June | 13,0 | 24,5 | 95,3 | 13,7 |
July | 14,7 | 26,7 | 77,4 | 11,2 |
August | 14,4 | 26,3 | 92,3 | 10,4 |
September | 10,8 | 22,1 | 85,8 | 10,4 |
October | 6,2 | 15,8 | 82,9 | 10,9 |
November | 1,4 | 8,9 | 80,1 | 11,3 (2,9) |
December | -1,7 | 4,6 | 59,6 | 11,0 (6,7) |
YEAR | 5,9 | 15,8 | 840,1 | 135,6 (29) |
CLIMATE TABLES: SPLIT
SPLIT (SPALATO) (3 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days (snowy days) |
January | 5,4 | 10,3 | 43,2 | 11 (1) |
February | 5,5 | 11,0 | 38,9 | 10 (1) |
March | 7,6 | 13,7 | 52,6 | 10 |
April | 10,8 | 17,4 | 59,3 | 9 |
May | 15,2 | 22,5 | 72,6 | 9 |
June | 18,8 | 26,7 | 95,3 | 9 |
July | 21,6 | 30,7 | 77,4 | 6 |
August | 21,5 | 30,0 | 92,3 | 5 |
September | 18,1 | 25,1 | 85,8 | 7 |
October | 14,1 | 20,0 | 82,9 | 9 |
November | 9,9 | 14,9 | 80,1 | 12 |
December | 6,0 | 11,5 | 59,6 | 13 |
YEAR | 12,9 | 19,5 | 840,1 | 110 (2) |
CLIMATE TABLES: PULA
PULA (POLA) (30 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | 2 | 10 | 78 | |
February | 2 | 10 | 64 | |
March | 4 | 13 | 65 | |
April | 8 | 16 | 70 | |
May | 12 | 21 | 56 | |
June | 16 | 25 | 53 | |
July | 18 | 28 | 48 | |
August | 18 | 28 | 75 | |
September | 15 | 24 | 85 | |
October | 12 | 20 | 85 | |
November | 7 | 14 | 80 | |
December | 4 | 10 | 112 | |
YEAR | 9,8 | 18,2 | 871 |
CLIMATE TABLES: DUBROVNIK
DUBROVNIK (RAGUSA) (3 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | 6,6 | 12,3 | 98,3 | 11,2 |
February | 6,8 | 12,6 | 97,9 | 11,2 |
March | 8,4 | 14,4 | 93,1 | 11,2 |
April | 11,0 | 16,9 | 91,4 | 12,0 |
May | 15,3 | 21,5 | 70,1 | 9,4 |
June | 18,9 | 25,3 | 44,0 | 6,4 |
July | 21,4 | 28,2 | 28,3 | 4,7 |
August | 21,6 | 28,5 | 72,5 | 5,1 |
September | 18,4 | 25,1 | 86,1 | 7,2 |
October | 14,9 | 21,1 | 120,1 | 10,8 |
November | 10,7 | 16,6 | 142,3 | 12,4 |
December | 7,8 | 13,4 | 119,8 | 12,0 |
YEAR | 13,5 | 19,7 | 1064 | 113,6 |
SEA WATER TEMPERATURE
DUBROVNIK (RAGUSA) | ||||
Month | Sea water temperature °C | |||
January | 13 | |||
February | 12 | |||
March | 13 | |||
April | 14 | |||
May | 17 | |||
June | 21 | |||
July | 23 | |||
August | 23 | |||
September | 22 | |||
October | 21 | |||
November | 18 | |||
December | 15 |
ROVINJ (ROVIGNO) | ||||
Month | Sea water temperature °C | |||
January | 10 | |||
February | 9 | |||
March | 9 | |||
April | 12 | |||
May | 16 | |||
June | 20 | |||
July | 23 | |||
August | 24 | |||
September | 22 | |||
October | 18 | |||
November | 15 | |||
December | 12 |