Croatia records near-record summer heat and drought in 2026, straining agriculture

Croatia recorded an extremely warm and dry summer in 2026, with near-record temperatures and severe precipitation deficits straining agriculture, according to data published by the national meteorological agency DHMZ.
The mean seasonal air temperature across almost the entire country exceeded the 1991–2020 average by 1.8 °C to 3.3 °C, with the highest deviations in Puntijarka and Zavižan at 3.3 °C. Percentiles at multiple stations, including Osijek, Puntijarka, Zavižan and Dubrovnik, reached 99.9, indicating unusually high temperatures relative to the climatological normal. The only exceptions were Varaždin and Daruvar, where the summer was classified as very warm rather than extreme.
Precipitation data showed pronounced deficits, particularly in eastern and central regions. Gradište received just 24.7% of its normal summer rainfall, with only 51.2 millimeters recorded, while Slavonski Brod saw about 37% of its usual amount. Osijek, Daruvar, Parg, Zagreb, Puntijarka, Sisak and Karlovac also experienced very dry conditions. The most extreme surplus was on Rab island, where precipitation reached 119.2% of normal, totaling 193.5 millimeters .
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