Croatia is facing a new wave of extreme heat driven by a meteorological phenomenon known as a heat dome. This involves a situation where a vast mass of hot, dry air, spreading from the Sahara, is trapped above the continent, leading to a sharp and dangerous rise in temperatures. Hot air from the south-west is gradually taking control over central Europe, forecasting difficult conditions for the coming weeks.
The phenomenon first impacted Africa and south-west Europe, where drastic values were recorded. In parts of Tunisia and Algeria, temperatures rose to 49°C, while 47.8°C was recorded in Sardinia. In Spain, temperatures are expected to range between 45 and 47°C. The European record currently stands at 48.8°C, recorded in Sicily’s Syracuse in 2021.
In Croatia, conditions are currently milder due to local influences. In Dubrovnik, 25°C was recorded today thanks to the bura, but this is a temporary state. Zagreb and its surrounding area face a sudden rise in temperatures, which will intensify from the start of the week, with the peak of the heat expected in August.
According to forecasts from Severe Weather Europe and meteorological models such as GFS, Croatia is facing temperatures of 40°C. The particular danger lies in the tropical nights, which will not allow the body to cool down. The data source for the records is Jutarnji list, and the article was published on 24 July 2026.
