End of heat wave could be stormy

Croatia has crested the peak of the current heat wave and relief is expected on Monday but the shift to cooler weather is likely to be stormy in many parts of the country.

The Croatian Hydrological and Meteorological Service has downgraded the red weather warning to orange and forecast a shift in the weather starting Sunday night. Rain and thundershowers are expected to arrive on the north Adriatic first and then spread southward and westward. This should bring cooler temperatures to the entire country by Monday, although Slavonia may have to wait until the late afternoon and evening to get some relief.

Meteorologist Petra Mikuš Jurković says that in many places the end of the heat wave could be quite turbulent.

"Local storms are very likely but far more likely on the Adriatic. There is the possibility of hail. High southeasterly and southwesterly winds are forecast and there's also the possibility of twisters,” she said.

According to Mikuš Jurković, the current orange heatwave warning is likely to be changed to an orange storm warning, which could easily be upgraded to red.

Severe storms with high winds already hit parts of central Europe, southern Germany, and northern Italy, late Saturday and early Sunday. Powerful winds caused serious problems in Monza and other areas around Milan. Extreme winds tore the roofs off several homes and forced rail authorities to temporarily suspend trains between Milan and Alessandria. Six people were injured in Bavaria while trying to pin down a tent in Augsburg in extremely windy conditions.