Meteotsunami sends water rushing over Hvar’s Stari Grad, leaves boats stranded
A sudden meteotsunami struck the northern and central Adriatic on the night of 15‑16 July, causing the sea level at Stari Grad on the island of Hvar to rise about 30 cm before dropping roughly 60 cm below normal. The brief surge flooded the promenade, reached the doors of buildings and forced tourists to flee the shore; the subsequent rapid ebb left dozens of small boats grounded on the seabed.
Meteorologists attribute the event to rapid atmospheric‑pressure changes that amplify sea‑level oscillations in long, shallow bays. Weather stations recorded wind gusts up to 32 m s⁻¹ on nearby islands such as Lošinj and Istria, and similar water‑level fluctuations were reported along the coasts of Pula, Zadar and other Dalmatian towns. The Croatian meteorological service had issued a yellow warning for the region earlier in the day.
The phenomenon, known locally as a “meteotsunami,” is rare but not unprecedented in the Adriatic and was observed by several regional news outlets.