Adriatic Sea:
The Adriatic Sea stretches north-west - south-east, and
comprises the area between the Balkan and Apennine peninsula (783
km). The average width of the Adriatic amounts to 170 km. The part
belonging to the Republic of Croatia is that of the east coast,
which extends all the way from Prevlaka in the south to the cape
Savudrija in the west, including all islands, islets and cliffs
along the coast, as well as the archipelago of Palagruza.
When to visit Croatia:
The best period for a stay on the Croatian coast is between
April and October. Summer temperatures can even reach 38°C,
whereas the sea temperature amounts to pleasant 26°C during the
summer period. High season (July and August) offers lots of fun,
entertainment and excitement to guests eager for such a holiday,
whereas the diversity of the Croatian coast also offers many
peaceful and quiet places for guests looking for a rest far away
from the loud music of the disco clubs. March is accompanied by the
spring sun, as well as an occasional shower, whereas the early
autumn, i.e. September and October, are ideal for people eager to
have some rest. In the off season beaches are no longer crowded,
and the weather remains stable and the sea temperature pleasant. In
the winter period be sure to bring warm clothes regardless of the
mild Mediterranean climate. Although the temperature never reaches
0°C, the wind can be quite unpleasant.
If you are looking for a great selection of places to stay with
discount prices, visit Hotel
Reservation in Zagreb for more information.
Depths
The shallowest part of the Croatian Adriatic is in Istria, where
the depth does not exceed 50 metres. From Pula, the seabed is
mildly lowering, making a long, narrow valley which extends from
Zirje towards Italy and is called "Jabucka kotlina". The largest
depth there is around 240 metres. From "Jabucka kotlina", the
seabed is rising to Palagruza reef, where the largest depth amounts
to 130 metres. Towards the south, the seabed is again steeply
lowering towards the South-Adriatic valley, where the largest depth
measured is around 1,300 metres.
Tides
The tidal movements of the Adriatic are of relatively small
amplitudes. In the southern part, the difference rarely exceeds
some forty centimetres, whereas in the northern part it is somewhat
bigger, so that it amounts to 1 metre in Istria and the Gulf of
Trieste. In some narrow channels and bays, the high tide can rise
considerably during a strong north-eastern wind ("Bura"). This
phenomenon is characteristic for big and deep bays of the southern
Adriatic. The tides are of a mixed type, which means that their
rhythm is semidiurnal during the new and full moon, and diurnal
during the first and the last quarter. Their amplitudes are quite
irregular.
Sea currents
Sea currents occur under the influence of winds, the differences
in pressure, temperature, and salinity. Currents of the Adriatic
can hardly be noticed. The speed of currents changes in particular
areas, but it also depends on time periods. The average current
speed amounts to around 0.5 knots, but they can also reach the
speed of 4 knots.
Salinity
The average salinity of the Adriatic Sea is 38.30 per mill. In
the northern part, the salinity is somewhat lower than in the
central and southern part due to the influence of the River Po.
Sea temperature
The Adriatic Sea has a very noticeable annual change of the
surface sea temperature. The average annual temperature is
11°C. During the winter time, the sea is the coldest and the
surface temperature amounts to around 7°C. In the spring time,
the sea gets warmer, and the surface temperature rises to 18°C.
In the summer time the surface of the sea reaches quite a high
temperature of 22 to 25°C, and in the southern Adriatic and
Istria even up to 27°C.
Waves in the Adriatic
Waves occur primarily as a consequence of the blowing of winds.
The farther the reach, i.e. the surface across which the wind
blows, the higher the waves tend to be. Their strength depends on
the configuration and exposure of the coast. Most often, the
heights of waves in the Adriatic range between 0.5 and 1.5 metres,
and very rarely exceed 5 metres.
Climate
The climate is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters, and hot,
dry summers. The average temperature in the winter time ranges
between 5°C and 10°C, and in the summer time between
26°C and 30°C. The sea temperature amounts to around
12°C in February and 25°C in August.
Winds
Basic winds of the Adriatic are the following: "Bura" (bora -
north-eastern wind), "Maestral" (landward breeze - north-western
wind), "Jugo" (sirocco - south-eastern wind) and "Nevera" (strong
western wind).
Furthermore: "Libecco" (from the direction of south-west),
"Levantera" (from east) and "Tramontana" (from north). At stable
high air pressure, winds from the mainland usually blow during the
night, and from the direction of 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
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