CROATIACroatia - land of a thousand islands, magical nature and rich heritage, a land where the hues of the sunny and warm Mediterranean happily blend with the tranquillity and freshness of mountains and the gentle sway of the golden plains of Pannonia.
Croatia is one of the richest European countries in terms of biodiversity because of its geographical position at the crossroads of several biogeographical regions and its characteristic ecological, climate and geomorphological conditions. These conditions in combination with various local traditions in the use of space, which have developed as a result of economic and historical circumstances, have also contributed to an exceptionally rich diversity of the landscape. For now, Croatia is one of the ecologically best preserved parts of Europe. |
Croatian ClimateCroatia is divided into two predominant climate regions - Continental and Mediterranean although there are some variations within those climate zones. As everywhere, Croatia's climate is determined by its geography, which is characterised by a mixture of mountains, plains, forests and a long littoral belt.
Mediterranean climate region Croatia's coast and islands, from Istria and Kvarner in the north through to Dalmatia in the south are governed by a Mediterranean climate. In the summer, the mean temperature is between 24°C and 26°C along the coast. In winter, the coast has a mean temperature of 2°C in the north and 9°C in the south. As a rule, summer is the driest season along the coast and winter is the rainiest season, with twice the amount of precipitation as the summer. Croatia's islands can be very dry (especially the islands furthest from the mainland) which sometimes leads to devastating fires. Snow is a rare occurrence anywhere along the coast. Continental climate region The Croatian interior, which includes Zagreb and Slavonia, is separated from the coast by the Dinaric Mountains and has a completely different climate. Winters get cold, with the mean temperature in January ranging from 0°C to -2°C. In July, the mean is approximately 22°C although strong heat waves have become more frequent. The mountains of Croatia such as the Velebit range and Medvednica (near Zagreb) are cooler and get more precipitation. In winter the mean temperature ranges from -2°C to -4°C and above 1,500 m it is a few degrees colder. Snow is common in the higher elevations, providing Croatia with a ski season. In summer the mountains are a temperate 10°C to 18°C, which makes them a pleasant escape from the coastal heat. |
Facing climate change - todayIn Croatia, temperatures are already increasing, precipitation appears to be decreasing, and there appear to be more extreme weather events – especially droughts and heat waves.
In the future, Croatia is expected to become hotter and drier – especially in the summer. Climate models suggest if emissions continue to increase, the period between 2040-2070 will be between 3 and 3.5° warmer throughout Croatia during the summer. By the end of the century, the increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation would be even more severe. |