Dalmatia is known for its long and warm summers and beaches that attract tourists from all over the world. But what happens in winter? What are the weather conditions like then?
Thanks to the Mediterranean climate, winters in this part of Croatia are quite mild compared to the interior of the country, while snow on the coast itself is a rarity.
However, that does not mean that there are no problems - storm surges from the Bura and South can cause great damage and cut ties with the islands.
Temperatures air temperatures rarely fall below zero in Dalmatia in winter, but strong gusts of wind can create a strong impression of cold. Many will say that in such situations it seems that the temperature is several degrees lower than the real one.
The coldest month of the year is January, when the average air temperature remains in the range of 5°C to 10°C. About the same is true for February, while December is a shade warmer.
When you look at other temperatures in Croatia, especially in the interior, the climate in Split and other Dalmatian cities is significantly warmer. This makes properties in Dalmatia more attractive both for living and for vacation because you can always escape the cold there and snow.
Snow is very rare in Dalmatia, and even when it falls it most likely won't stick around long enough to cause problems. The snow in Split in 2012, which paralyzed the city, is still remembered today, the first such disaster in many years.
That is why rain is the most common form of precipitation during winter, and it is often followed by the south. However, it is not uncommon for hail to fall in Dalmatia in winter.
when it comes to winds, more or less everyone in Croatia knows about the two most famous: jugo and buru. These are winds that are diametrically opposed when it comes to the weather they bring, and both can reach hurricane force.
Bura is a wind that blows from the coast to the sea, that is, from the north or northeast to the south or southwest. It is a dry but cold wind that brings good weather with it, so many Dalmatians say that the storm "purifies" the air, and the biometeorological conditions are much more favorable during such periods. Storms usually blow for days, sometimes for two or three weeks, and as a rule, they are stronger at night than during the day, although they can also reach storm surges during the day.
S on the other hand, the south blows from the sea towards the land and brings with it cloudy weather that is often accompanied by rain and a high level of humidity in the air. Such weather is called the south and often has an unfavorable effect on people, because people more sensitive to weather changes suffer from low pressure and lack of energy. The air temperatures are significantly higher in these periods.
Unlike the bura, the south usually blows uniformly and the wind is weaker on average, although it can last for days or even weeks.
When everything is added up and subtracted, the climate in Dalmatia is quite pleasant to live in, primarily due to the fact that snow and very low temperatures are very rare. The Mediterranean climate is characterized by mild winters that are, on average, much more pleasant than those in the interior of the continent, not to mention the north of Europe.
Nevertheless, even Dalmatian winters are not without their challenges, which most often come in the form of south winds or storms, but if you want to avoid extreme cold during any of the winter months, Dalmatia is the ideal place for that.
Šibenik
Šibenik
