Climate - Zadar (Croatia)

The climate of Zadar is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.
Zadar (Zara in Italian) is located in Dalmatia, on the Adriatic coast. In front of the city are the islands of the Zadar Archipelago. The largest is Dugi Otok, but the closest to the city are Ugljan and Pašman.
The winter, from December to February, is mild, and is characterized by sunny periods alternating with periods of bad weather.
Despite this, there can sometimes be very cold days due to air masses coming from the interior of the Balkan Peninsula, brought by the Bora wind. In these cases, the temperature can drop down to -6 -7 °C (19/21 °F) at night, and stay around freezing or a little below during the day. The coldest record is -9 °C (16 °F), recorded in January 1963. At the Zemunik airport, located a few kilometers from the coast, the temperature dropped to -12 °C (10.5 °F) in January 1987 and February 2018.
During these cold periods, light snowfalls, generally not abundant, can also occur.

The summer, from June to August, is hot and sunny, with some afternoon thunderstorms, and a few rainy days, more likely in June.
Generally, the heat is not excessive and the breeze blows from the sea, however, there can be very hot and sultry periods, with highs of 34/35 °C (93/95 °F) and beyond. The record is 36.5 °C (97.5 °F), recorded in August 2017 (when the temperature at the airport reached 39.5 °C or 103 °F).

Best Time

The best times to visit Zadar are spring and autumn, namely the months of May and September. In June, the weather is often excellent, but it can sometimes get hot, especially in the second half of the month.
To go to the beach, the best months are July and August. In June, the sea is still a little cool.

Zadar - Climate data

In Zadar, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 8.0 °C (46.4 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 25.1 °C (77.3 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Zadar, precipitation amounts to 905 millimeters (35.6 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 35 mm (1.4 in) in the driest month (July) to 125 mm (4.9 in) in the wettest one (September). Here is the average precipitation.
At Zadar, the sea temperature ranges from 12 °C (54 °F) in February to 25 °C (77 °F) in August. Here are the average sea temperatures.
In Zadar, there are on average around 2640 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Zadar - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2018

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Zadar is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 8.0 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 4.8 °C (40.7 °F) and a maximum of 11.1 °C (52.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30 °F). However, it dropped to -6.8 °C (19.8 °F) in January 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) in January 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 13 °C (55.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In February, the weather in Zadar is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 8.0 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 4.6 °C (40.2 °F) and a maximum of 11.4 °C (52.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30 °F). However, it dropped to -6.4 °C (20.5 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15.5 °C (59.5 °F). However, it reached 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) in February 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 12 °C (54 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Zadar is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.7 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 7.1 °C (44.8 °F) and a maximum of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -6 °C (21.2 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66 °F). However, it reached 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Zadar is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.9 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 10.3 °C (50.6 °F) and a maximum of 17.5 °C (63.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.5 °C (32.9 °F) in April 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 26.5 °C (79.7 °F) in April 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14.5 °C (58 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Zadar is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.5 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 14.6 °C (58.2 °F) and a maximum of 22.4 °C (72.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (51.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) in May 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). However, it reached 32 °C (89.6 °F) in May 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Zadar is usually warm. The average temperature is of 22.5 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) and a maximum of 26.6 °C (79.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57 °F). However, it dropped to 10.7 °C (51.3 °F) in June 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 34.6 °C (94.3 °F) in June 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (71.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In July, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Zadar is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 25.1 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 20.8 °C (69.5 °F) and a maximum of 29.5 °C (85 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C (63 °F). However, it dropped to 12.7 °C (54.9 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 36.1 °C (97 °F) in July 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 24.5 °C (76 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In August, the weather in Zadar is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 25.1 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 20.8 °C (69.4 °F) and a maximum of 29.4 °C (84.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it dropped to 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 36.3 °C (97.3 °F) in August 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 25 °C (77 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Zadar is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.8 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 16.8 °C (62.2 °F) and a maximum of 24.7 °C (76.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9 °C (48.2 °F) in September 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84 °F). However, it reached 32 °C (89.6 °F) in September 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 125 mm (4.9 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (73 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Zadar is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.9 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56 °F) and a maximum of 20.5 °C (68.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.3 °C (36.1 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 27.2 °C (81 °F) in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm (4.1 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Zadar is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.8 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) and a maximum of 15.9 °C (60.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to -1.8 °C (28.8 °F) in November 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in November 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17 °C (62.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Zadar is usually mild. The average temperature is of 9.1 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 5.9 °C (42.7 °F) and a maximum of 12.3 °C (54.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -6.5 °C (20.3 °F) in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it reached 18.7 °C (65.7 °F) in December 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.