Chunks of ice falling from the sky, burning trees and streets flooded with streaming water aren’t the first things that come to mind for a European holiday destination like Split. So, you can imagine my surprise when what should have been a fun boat tour around the Croatian city’s nearby islands quickly turned into what felt like a disaster movie during my holiday.
Split is a beautiful coastal city steeped in Roman history which locals describe as “the most beautiful in the world” and with a flight from any London airport taking about two hours 30 minutes it is no surprise it is so popular. Walking around the streets of its Old Town you will pass the grand Diocletian’s Palace where you can sit on the steps and watch men dressed in Roman garb act out fights.
A holiday to Split offers both the chance to be a beach bum and get lost in history. Bačvice Bay is the city’s most popular beach, offering crystal-clear water and mountain views.
And one of the most popular activities to do while in Split is to take a boat tour of the city’s islands Šolta, Drvenik, and Čiovo. As a big fan of snorkelling, swimming and drinking, this was, of course, on my list of must-dos for the holiday.
Bright and early on Tuesday morning (July 8) we headed down to the port to embark on our nine-hour boat journey – towels and sunhats in hand. We boarded the boat excitedly and waited to depart with the expectation of some rain during the morning.
While there were admittedly some heavy looking clouds looming, we weren’t deterred. We’re Brits, rain can’t stop us.
But just before we disembarked, the heavens opened and a downpour fell from the sky. People were laughing and filming with surprise at the heavy rain.
But smiles quickly turned to screams as gale-force winds began to hit the city, sending chairs and tables flying all over the nearby promenade. Chunks of ice began to fall from the sky as everyone was forced to duck for cover to try and avoid being hit by the ginormous hailstones.
The tour guides frantically tried to secure our boat using buoys and ropes, while passengers were directed to go inside the vessel to seek shelter. Inside we waited for the storm to pass as we clasped lifejackets.
After around 20 minutes we exited the boat and came out to the top deck where we were helped to exit onto the dock. Street furniture was upturned on the pavement and water rushed around the streets.
The boat tour was well and truly postponed until better weather conditions. But the chaos on the streets left us even more shocked as we were forced to wade through streams of water to get home.
Footage online also showed trees set on fire from lightning bolts, while the famous Diocletian’s Palace was left partly submerged by the heavy deluge. On our way back to our apartment in the Old Town, locals told us: “Nothing like this has ever happened before in Split.”
The shocking storm left around 20 people injured, although none seriously, reports Croatia Week. While the hurricane-force gusts and widespread damage may feel unexplainable, it has been put down to two cyclones which passed over the city.
Director of Croatia’s State Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ), Dr Ivan Güttler, told Croatian broadcaster HRT: “In recent days, two cyclones passed over our area. What made this event unique was that they encountered a warm surface, both land and sea, which had been heated by previous heatwaves.”
Interactions between cooler air and a warm surface can create convection clouds which are known to produce hail, strong winds and rain. The weather left the streets of Split in chaos with damage to trees and structures affecting the lives of the locals living there.
And although we were left slightly shaken, the experience didn’t have much affect on the rest of our lovely week away in Split which I would still happily recommend for anyone looking for a beach holiday this Summer. We were able to return to the dock a little later in the morning and spend a lovely afternoon exploring the Croatian city’s beautiful islands.
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