Weather in Croatia by Month
Croatia is a Mediterranean country located in Central Europe. It borders Slovenia to the west, Hungary to the north, Serbia to the east, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the south. The country also has a long maritime border with Italy in the Adriatic Sea (2028 km). Croatia covers an area of 56 thousand km2, where about 4.2 million people live. There are 1185 islands on the 1777 km Croatian coastline, not all of which are inhabited.
The coastal regions of Croatia are characterized by a Mediterranean climate with an average summer temperature of +24°С…+26°С and winter temperatures from +2°С in the north to +9°С in the south. The water temperature in the summer months is +25°С…+27°С. The internal climate of the country is continental, with more rainfall in the west and less in the east. Going on vacation to Croatia, look at the weather calendar by month to choose the best time for a unique trip.
January
January is a snowy period for the interior of the country and rainy for the coast. The average daily temperature range on the coast is +7°С…+11°С, and in the continental regions – from +3°С…+5C. The water in the Adriatic Sea is warmed up to +14°С. Typical January weather means snowfalls in the north and strong winds (“bora”) in coastal areas.
February
In the coastal areas and on most of the islands of Croatia, the weather is rainy. The Adriatic Sea warms up to +13°С. In coastal cities such as Hvar, Dubrovnik and Split, the average temperature reaches +10°С…+12°С. At the same time in Zagreb +4°С. In February, there are still gusts of strong wind, which is often accompanied by fog. The strongest can be traced in Kvarner and in the north of Dalmatia, here the winds can blow up to 14 days in a row.
March
The weather in March is typically spring, with an average daytime temperature in Dubrovnik around +13°C. The temperature indicators of the Adriatic Sea are approximately + 14 ° С. In the continental regions, there are still no leaves on the trees, and in places there is snow in the forests surrounding the Plitvice Lakes. The amount of precipitation slightly differs in different regions of the country and is 60-90 mm.
April
In continental regions closer to the border with Austria, snow can still be seen. At this time, near the coastal regions of Croatia, daytime temperatures can range from + 14 ° С to + 22 ° С. The average temperature of sea water will be +15°С. The weather is also characterized by rainy days, of which there will be 5 in March, and the precipitation level at this time of the year reaches 50-60 mm.
May
During this month, the country receives less precipitation, about 40 mm. The average daily temperature ranges from +21°С to +24°С. Although the sea temperature is not high enough (+19°C), many tourists are already opening the beach season. Another advantage of a holiday in May is the absence of discomfort from heat and humidity.
June
June is the perfect time to sunbathe and enjoy a comfortable swim in Croatia as there is no heat at this time of the year. The average daily temperature in the continental regions is +24°С, and on the coast – up to +25°С…+27°С. Precipitation is rare, not exceeding 90 mm.
July
The average monthly air temperature in July is +31°C. The sea breeze does not allow the heat to become unbearable. The water temperature in the sea is stable at +26°C. Rain is extremely rare this time of year.
August
The average daily temperature along the coast is +30°C. The sea temperature reaches +28°C due to warm currents moving north along the Adriatic coast. Those who can’t stand the heat and crowded beaches can relax in the highlands of Central Croatia, where you can expect +15°C…+20C during the day.
September
In coastal areas, the air temperature in September is usually 5 degrees cooler than in August and rarely drops below +25°C. More precipitation is expected than during the summer months. In Dalmatia, at least 100 mm of precipitation falls. In the northern regions of Croatia, the rains can be intense. The average relative humidity in the country is 63%. The temperature of the sea water is about +23°С, which makes swimming and diving especially pleasant. In September, the “south” (or “sirocco”) wind appears, which brings humid and warm air from the sea to the continental regions. This is the time when the winds start getting stronger and the sailing season begins.
October
The average daily air temperature along the coast is +20°C. At this time of the year, there are still days suitable for swimming and diving, when the temperature of the water in the sea reaches +23°C.
November
There are 16 days on average in November, which are characterized by precipitation. The average temperature of the sea and air on the coast reaches the same mark of +17°C. It is getting colder in the continental regions of Croatia. The average temperature in Zagreb is +6°C, and it may snow in some inland regions.
December
Snow is common in continental regions, but precipitation is unlikely in coastal areas. For Inner Croatia, the average daily temperature is +5°C, while on the coast the thermometer reaches +11°C. At this time of the year, the water temperature is kept at around +15 ° C and only hardened vacationers go into the water.
If you have a few weeks to spare in December, you might consider holidaying in Croatia. At this time of the year, the resorts of the country are characterized by affordable prices and the absence of a crowd of tourists.
