DHMZ has issued regional warnings for thunderstorms, strong south-westerly winds and heat. The time windows differ considerably – and yellow means heightened awareness, not severe weather across the entire country.
Several yellow warnings – but not the same hazard
The Croatian weather service DHMZ has issued several yellow warnings for Tuesday, August 25, 2026. In the Rijeka, Gospić, Knin and Split regions, the concern is locally intense thunderstorms. On the western coast of Istria, strong south-westerly winds are the main risk during the early morning. In the Dubrovnik area, by contrast, DHMZ is warning of heat.
These warnings should not be combined into a single weather front affecting all of Croatia. DHMZ warning regions are meteorological areas and do not always coincide with counties or tourism-region names. Anyone travelling should therefore check their exact location and the relevant time window.
Rijeka: thunderstorm risk throughout Tuesday
A yellow warning applies to the Rijeka warning region from 00:00 to 23:59. DHMZ puts the probability of locally intense thunderstorms at more than 70%. This is the highest probability stated in the published coastal warnings, but it predicts neither the exact location nor the exact minute of a storm.
For trips on Krk, Cres or along the Kvarner coast, that means not relying on the appearance of the sky in the morning, but reloading the radar and warning page. Short, intense showers can quickly change visibility, road conditions and harbour operations, while places only a few kilometres away remain dry.
Gospić, Knin and Split: main risk from 9 a.m.
In the Gospić, Knin and Split warning regions, the yellow thunderstorm window begins at 09:00 and continues until 23:59. DHMZ gives a probability of more than 60% for Gospić and more than 50% for both Knin and Split. The warning concerns possible intense thundery showers and their local effects.
Travellers should not interpret this as a forecast of continuous rain. Local cells are what matter: a trip may begin in calm weather and later encounter torrential rain, gusts or lightning. Mountain roads, exposed viewpoints, beaches and small boats therefore require an earlier decision to turn back than a café in town.
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Three hazards, different time windows
Western Istria: strong winds in the early morning
A yellow wind warning applies to the western coast of Istria from 02:00 to 09:00. Locally strong south-westerly winds are expected, with gusts of 35 to 40 knots, or approximately 65 to 75 kilometres per hour. DHMZ expressly warns of dangerous waves for smaller vessels; individual catamaran services may also be affected.
A forecast wind value does not automatically mean a cancellation. The operator, harbour authority and actual conditions in the morning remain decisive. Anyone planning an early crossing or a trip in a small hire boat should therefore check the operator's information and harbour notice before setting out – not only upon reaching the quay.
Dubrovnik: yellow for heat, not thunderstorms
The Dubrovnik warning region is under a yellow warning throughout Tuesday because of heat. DHMZ forecasts a maximum temperature above 32 degrees. For a city visit, the measured value is not the only consideration: stone surfaces, limited shade and dense crowds can increase the strain in the old town.
Water, a hat, breaks and a slower itinerary around midday are more sensible responses than alarmism. People with cardiovascular conditions, young children and older travellers should favour the early or later hours.
The Adriatic forecast supplements the land warnings
The DHMZ marine forecast issued at 7 p.m. on August 24 mentions local bora gusts in the northern Adriatic the following morning, as well as temporary south-westerly winds of 35 to 40 knots on the open northern Adriatic. Local thunderstorms are expected during the following day; overnight, the sea state increases regionally to two or three.
Land warnings and marine forecasts answer different questions. On the water, wind direction, gusts, waves and visibility matter just as much as thunderstorms. A yellow marker on the land map therefore replaces neither the coastal forecast nor the briefing from the hire company or skipper.
What a yellow warning actually means
Yellow denotes potentially dangerous weather. It does not mean that damage will occur everywhere, nor does it mean the warning can be ignored. Activities with little shelter and a long return route are particularly vulnerable: swimming far offshore, SUP, open boats, mountain hikes and journeys on exposed roads.
The sensible response is to remain flexible. Plan bookings and routes so they can be postponed, do not park vehicles beneath problematic branches, and during a thunderstorm stay away from isolated trees and open water.
The morning check is decisive
Weather warnings are updated. Before setting out on August 25, travellers should therefore open the DHMZ warning map, the Adriatic forecast and, for road journeys, the current HAK traffic report. For ferries and excursion boats, add the relevant operator's notice.
This article reflects the official information available on the evening of August 24. If DHMZ changes the warning level, period or region, the newer original notice applies. In an immediate emergency in Croatia, call 112.
Evidence
Sources & date
Sources support the facts. Planning notes and recommendations are Golden Beach editorial assessments.
- DHMZ warnings for August 25, 2026Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service · Information checked August 24, 2026, 10:30 p.m.Warning levels, regions, time windows, probabilities, wind gusts and heat threshold
- Adriatic forecastCroatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service · August 24, 2026, 7:00 p.m.Marine weather, gusts, waves and thunderstorm outlook for the Adriatic
- Current traffic conditionsCroatian Automobile Club · continuous serviceCurrent road, ferry and traffic disruption information
