A violent storm packing hurricane-force winds struck the Croatian port of Split on the morning of July 8, wreaking extensive damage, widespread flooding, and upheaval across the maritime landscape.
Shortly after 9 a.m. local time, gale winds exceeding 140 km/h (87 mph) swept through the city. They felled trees, disrupted infrastructure, and cut power to numerous districts. The storm, born of a fast-forming mesoscale convective system, descended with torrential rain and hail, blaring sirens that sent both residents and tourists hastening for shelter. At the harbor, the Jadrolinija ferry tore loose from its moorings. The vessel was driven into a catamaran before colliding with a tourist boat, which rapidly sank under the blow. Local officials noted that no injuries resulted from the ferry’s breakaway, though one person reportedly leapt to safety from the sinking vessel. Authorities commended the ferry’s captain and crew for promptly dropping anchor and averting a potentially graver disaster.
At the time, two cruise liners, Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2, were docked in Split as part of Marella Cruises’ summer Mediterranean route, favored by British vacationers. Passengers aboard endured severe conditions as the storm lashed the port. Although neither cruise ship sustained serious damage, their presence intensified the urgency of the harbor’s emergency response.
Beyond the harbor, Split bore the storm’s full fury. Fallen trees and downed power lines scarred multiple neighborhoods and a stadium’s roof suffered heavy damage. Flooded streets brought traffic to a standstill, and emergency services were inundated with calls.
This tempest followed several days of extreme heat, with temperatures in the Balkans soaring above 40 °C (104 °F). The stark contrast between the searing heat and the sudden atmospheric collapse fueled the rapid formation of the destructive storm front.