Strong thunderstorms with walnut-sized hail hit the Istria region and parts of Dalmatia on Tuesday morning. The hardest hit were the areas around Rovinj and Kanfaner, where, according to information from the IstMet service, there were also minor injuries in addition to material damage.
The cyclone abruptly interrupted a period of stable and very hot weather. The change arrived after several days of heat, starting with the western coast of Istria.
Along with the hail, large amounts of rain fell in a very short time, making roads in places difficult to traverse. Parts of Rovinj were whitened by ice in just a few minutes, with residents posting photos and videos of the storm on social media. According to the Novi List, ice balls larger than 5 cm were falling in the area.
The storm did not spare Dalmatia. The wider area of Sinj and Imotski was hit, with hail falling in Sinj, Trilj, Turjaci, Brnaze, and the surrounding area of Imotski. According to initial reports from the field, damage was recorded on cars and agricultural crops.
The storm moved further towards the coast during the morning. The city of Rijeka announced that a pronounced weather system was moving from the west over southern Istria and the Kvarner islands, with municipal services on standby. The Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) warned of heavy rain in a short time, strong wind gusts, and local hail.
Unstable weather will continue throughout the day. Meteorologists forecast new thunderstorm showers, especially in the afternoon and evening, with the possibility of more intense storms on the Adriatic. A light to moderate bura will blow, with the northern wind expected to strengthen in the afternoon, potentially bringing gusty conditions in places.
