20. July, 2022
Some FAQs are like what is the best weather app or local forecast for sailing in Croatia? Usually, the most popular wind apps, like Windguru, Windfinder, Windy or Predictwind, are pretty accurate and good enough. But suppose you are looking for something that is locally used and 90% precise to local sailors, surfers, and kitesurfers. In that case, the regional weather report is a good place to start for generic weather information link:
DHMZ - Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service
Popular wind apps, like Windguru, Windfinder, Windy or Predictwind, will have already some weather stations installed in some marinas or privately by enthusiasts or government institutions all over the coast. It will be great to check them during the day to see if your previous day's forecasts were accurate and if the strength and direction of the wind are slowly picking up. Windy, for example, is an outstanding resource for the visual representation of local weather. It is considered one of the market's most accurate wind forecast apps due to its rapid speed, user-friendliness, and detail.
Its older competitors like Windguru and Windfinder are more popular due to a lack of knowledge for Windy. Predictwind wind will give you better forecasts for nice stable summer Mistrals (WNW direction) that are usually difficult to predict. Mistrals are most pleasant for intermediate sailors as they blow from 10-18 knots. However, Windguru and Windfinder have the most real-time weather stations installed, and it is good to check them in real-time.
Windguru provides particular wind and weather predictions for sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and other sports that involve wind. In addition, there are unique detailed weather and wind predictions and weather forecasts for any place or location around the globe!
One Hint: after 2-3 days of constant Bura wind blowing, it is always sure that the next day you will get a nice stable breeze of a good solid and pleasant Mistral wind blowing from WNW, due to the Bura cooling down the sea and the hot stones on the Islands creating that thermic effect. Sailors often get surprised as sometimes there is almost nothing in the weather forecasts regarding Mistral. Still, ist good to be prepared if you are a beginner to find some shelter between 1:00 pm - 5:30 pm or get ready if you are intermediate to advanced in skills to catch that wind.
Maestral or Mistral is a thermic wind that blows in the afternoon because the land warms up faster than the sea, especially after the Bura wind has cooled the sea down several degrees. The difference in pressures and temperatures causes the wind to blow. It can get quite intense sometimes, especially in narrow passes with hills, creating a turbine-like effect known as the venturi effect.
Most of the time, the printed version from the DHMZ - Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service will be on the door or wall of a sailing charter office in Croatia. It will show the most "accurate" wind forecast for Croatia because it has charts for 3 days for 4 different parts of the coast, from the far north to the far south. Click on one of the provided buttons below:
Wind dynamical adaptation for Zadar
Wind dynamical adaptation for Split
Wind dynamical adaptation for Dubrovnik
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Mon - Fri 08:00h - 16:00h
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