Adriatic Sea:
The Adriatic Sea comprises the area between the Balkan and Apennine peninsula, stretching 783 km in a direction north-west-south-east. The Adriatic has an average width of 170 km. The eastern part of the Adriatic Sea belongs to Croatia. It stretches from Prevlaka in the south and Cape Savudrija in the west including the Palagruža archipelago and all the islands, islets and reefs along the coast.
When to visit Croatia:
The best period for visit Croatian coast is between April and October. Summer temperatures can reach 38°C, while the sea temperature reaches pleasant 26°C during the summer period. July and August are high season and offer lots of excitement, entertainment and fun to guest who are looking for exactly that kind of vacation. For guest who are looking for a rest far away from the loud music, diversity of Croatian coast offers many quiet and peaceful places. March is followed up by the spring sun, as well as an occasional shower. Early autumn, September and October, is ideal for the ones who are looking for some rest. Beaches are no longer crowded, sea temperature is pleasant and the weather remains stable. In the winter period wind can be very unpleasant, so make sure you bring warm clothes regardless of the mild Mediterranean climate.
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Depths
Istria has the shallowest part of the Croatian Adriatic, where the depth doesn't exceed 50 meters. The seabed is mildly lowering from Pula, making a long narrow valley which is called “Jabučka kotlina”, extending from Žirje towards Italy. The largest depth there is about 240 meters. The seabed is rising from “Jabučka kotlina” to Palagruža reef, where the largest depth is up to 130 meters. Towards the South-Adriatic valley, the seabed is again steeply lowering and the largest depth measured there is around 1,300 meters.
Tides
The tidal movements of the Adriatic are of small amplitudes. In the southern part the difference rarely exceeds forty centimeters, while in the northern part amounts to 1 meter in Istria and the Gulf of Trieste. The high tide can rise in some narrow channels and bays, during a strong north-eastern wind “bura”. It is characteristic for deep andbig bays of the southern Adriatic. The rhythm of the tides is semidiurnal during the new and full moon and diurnal during the first and last quarter, which means that the tides are of a mixed type.
Sea currents
Currents of the Adriatic can hardly be noticed. They occur under the influence of winds, the differences in pressure, salinity and temperature. The speed of currents depends on time periods and changes in particular areas. The average speed of the currents is around 0.5 knots, but they can reach the speed of 4 knots.
Salinity
The average salinity of the Adriatic Sea is 38.30 per mill. Due to the influence of the River Po, in the northern part, the salinity is lower than in the central and southern part.
Sea temperature
The average annual temperature of the Adriatic Sea is 11°C. The sea is coldest in the winter when the surface temperature amounts to around 7°C. The sea gets warmer in the spring when the surface temperature rises to 18°C. In the summer, the surface temperature is the highest. It goes from 22 to 25°C , and in the southern Adriatic and Istria even up to 27°C.
Waves in the Adriatic
Waves occur as a consequence of the blowing of wind. The strongest the wind, the higher the waves tend to be. Their strength depends on the exposure of the coast. The heights of the waves in the Adriatic range between 0.5 and 1.5 meters, and very rarely exceed 5 meters.
Climate
Croatia has Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. In the winter time, the average temperature ranges between 5°C and 10°C, and in the summer between 26°C and 30°C. The sea temperature in February goes to 12°C and in August around 25°C.
Winds
Basic winds of the Adriatic are “bura”, north-eastern wind; “maestral”, north-western breeze; “jugo”, south-eastern wind; “pulent”, strong western wind and “tramontana”, blowing from the north. Winds from the mainland usually blow during the night, and winds from the direction of the sea during the day.
Information about weather in the Adriatic
Coastal radio stations broadcast information about weather as well as weather forecast for the following 24 hours on a daily basis in Croatian and English:
| Radio Rijeka |
VHF channel 24 |
05,35h, 14,35h, 19,35h |
| Radio Split |
VHF channels 07, 21, 23, 81 |
05,45h, 12,45h, 19,45h |
| Radio Dubrovnik |
VHF channels 07, 04 |
06,25h, 13,20h, 21,20h |
Constant weather forecasts on VHF - transmitters
Weather forecasts for the area of Croatian coastal waters are broadcast in Croatian, English, Italian and German every 10 minutes, and are being updated at 07,00h, 13,00h and 19,00h (local time). They include a situation overview, short weather forecast for the following 24 hours and air pressure information.
Broadcasting is on the following channels:
VHF-channel 73 for the northern Adriatic / western part of Istria
VHF-channel 69 for the northern Adriatic / eastern part
VHF-channel 67 for the central Adriatic / eastern part
VHF-channel 73 for the southern Adriatic / eastern part