Croatia Cruising Conditions

General Conditions
April – May: occasional showers, temperatures from 22-28 C. Winds generally NW F3-4 (10-20 Knots, sometimes up to 25 Knots). June - August – sunny, blue skies every day, temperature from 26 - 30 C. Winds generally NW F3-4 (10-20 Knots).
Sept – Oct: occasional showers (rain possible in late Oct). Winds generally NW F3-4 (10-20 Knots), but can be stronger in Oct (up to F 5-6).

The popularity of the Croatian coast as a sailing destination lies as much in the ideal climate as in the beauty of its shores and variety of sailing conditions. The sunny Adriatic enjoys an average of 315 cloudless days per year. During the most popular chartering season, May through November, blue skies and warm weather prevail. Summers are warm and dry whereas winters are very mild with short spells of rain as in the Balearics or Corsica. Sailors must however be careful as the weather can change very quickly.

Here are the dominant winds in Croatia:
* The Bura: A dry, cold wind. As it is a north-easterly, it mainly blows from the east coast of the Adriatic from land to sea. It brings fine weather. Because of the configuration of the land it blows locally with varying force and from various directions ranging from N to ENE. The relief of the east of the Adriatic causes the local bura winds to blow in strong gusts and to begin unexpectedly. The force of the Bura may vary from a light breeze to more intense.
* The Sirocco: A warm, humid wind blowing from ESE to SSE. It blows the entire length of the Adriatic coast and brings rough seas. The sky thickly clouds and there is almost always prolonged rain. It reaches its greatest force in the South Adriatic. It can blow at any time of the year. On average it blows at force 16-20 knots.
* The Maestral: By day the land surface gets more heated than the surface of the sea and as a result air currents begin to rise up from the land and at a certain distance are drawn down towards the sea thus causing land-sea circulation. The maestral is usually characterized by white cumulus clouds denoting fine weather. Begins usually to blow between 9 and 10 a.m. and reaches its maximum force about 2.00 pm. It always dies away before sunset. Its usual force is approx. 16-20 knots.

Historical Weather (Averages by month):

Tides
In the Eastern Mediterranean, the tidal range is very small: 30 cm to 60 cm (one to two feet depending on location) including the variation of level due to atmospheric pressure and dominant winds.

Weather Forecast
When you arrive at the base, we will provide you with a weather forecast for the next 24 hours.  Harbour Offices receive a weather forecast regularly; this is the best and most reliable source of weather information. On your VHF watch channels you can follow the transmitting time of meteorological reports, and navigation warnings.  This information is broadcast by mainland radio station in English at following times: 

SPLIT RADIO (Split, Šibenik, Hvar area)

• Broadcasting at : 7:45 14:45 21:45 Channels: 07, 21, 23, 28, 81, 67

DUBROVNIK RADIO (Dubrovnik area)

• Broadcasting at : 8:25 15:20 23:20 Channels: 04, 07, 81, 85

In modern times, it is common to check the weather forecast online. The official webpage from Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service is meteo.hr. We recommend participating in the local chart and area briefing for the best advice on current weather.