Dalmatia is known for its long and warm summers and beaches that attract tourists from all over the world. But what happens during winter? What kind of weather can you expect then?
Thanks to the Mediterranean climate, the winters in this part of Croatia are fairly mild compared to the central part of the country, and experiencing snow on the coast is exceptionally rare.
That doesn't mean the weather doesn't pose any challenges, though – bura and jugo can inflict serious damage and even stop the ferries that connect the islands with the mainland from operating.
Winter temperatures in Dalmatia rarely go below the freezing point, but gusts of bura can make you feel much colder than it really is. Many will say that they have the impression the temperature is several degrees lower than what the thermometer says.
The coldest month of the year is January when the median temperature is somewhere in the range between 5°C and 10°C. February is about the same, whereas December is slightly warmer than the other two winter months.
Compared to other temperatures in Croatia, especially the inland part, the climate in Split and other Dalmatian cities is significantly warmer. This is what makes real estate in Dalmatia more attractive, both if you’re looking for a place to live or if you just want to get away from all the snow and cold.
Snow in Dalmatia is very rare, and even when it does fall it usually doesn't remain on the ground long enough to cause problems. Even today people vividly remember the snow in Split in 2012 which paralyzed the city and was the first such snow in many years.
Considering all of that, rain is by far the most common form of precipitation during winter in Dalmatia, and it is often accompanied by jugo. However, it's not uncommon to see hail during the winter period, either.
When it comes to winds, pretty much everybody in Croatia knows of two famous Dalmatian winds: jugo and bura. The two are pretty much opposites when it comes to the kind of weather they bring, but they both can reach hurricane-level strength.
Bura is a wind that blows from the coast and towards the sea, i.e. from the north, northeast to south, southwest. It is a dry but cold wind that brings nice sunny weather, so many people in Dalmatia say that it clears the air, and the biometeorological conditions are much more favorable during periods of bura. The wind can blow for days, even weeks at a time, but it is usually stronger at night than during the day, although it can get pretty powerful while the sun is up, too.
On the other hand, jugo blows from the sea towards the coast and brings cloudy weather, usually accompanied by rain and high humidity. Such weather is called južina and it often has an adverse effect on people because persons who are sensitive to this suffer from lower blood pressure and lack of energy. Also, the temperature is significantly higher during this period compared to bura.
Unlike bura, jugo will, for the most time, blow at a steady pace and with a lower strength on average, Don't let that fool you, though, because it too can cause quite a storm and last for days or weeks.
All things considered, the climate in Dalmatia is quite pleasant, primarily because of the fact that snow and very low temperatures are very rare. The Mediterranean climate has mild winters that are much more bearable than those in the country's interior, not to mention places like northern Europe.
Still, Dalmatian winters do have their challenges, and they mostly come in the shape of jugo or bura, but if you want to avoid cold during the winter months, Dalmatia is an ideal place for that.