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Storms and heavy rain to hit much of Croatia

The Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) has announced new alerts ahead of worsening weather that is set to affect much of the country.

After a stretch of sweltering days with temperatures climbing above 35°C, a sharp change is on the way.

Already by Wednesday evening and overnight, the first significant storm systems are expected to strike Istria, the wider Rijeka area and Gorski kotar.

Heavy and intense rainfall is forecast, bringing the risk of urban and flash floods.

For Wednesday, an orange weather alert is in place for Istria and Kvarner, where heavy downpours, thunderstorms and strong winds are likely.

Conditions are expected to deteriorate both during the first part of the day and again in the evening and overnight. DHMZ has warned that local flooding and traffic disruption are possible.

Warnings have also been issued inland, including for the Rijeka, Gospić and Karlovac regions, where thunderstorms are predicted. In Rijeka, forecasters expect intense showers and strong winds, with more than a 70 percent chance of thunderstorm activity.

On Thursday, 21 August, unstable weather will spread further, reaching the Gospić and Knin regions as well as the entire Adriatic coast and its hinterland. Almost the entire country will be covered by yellow and orange alerts.

The Gospić, Karlovac, Zagreb and Osijek regions will fall under yellow warning, signalling potentially dangerous weather.

Meanwhile, the entire coastline and the Knin region will remain under orange alert, indicating dangerous conditions and an increased risk to property and safety. Authorities are urging citizens to remain cautious and closely follow weather updates.

In a sign of the severity of the system, local weather platform IstraMet reported recording more than 5,000 lightning strikes in just the past few hours.

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