Strong to gale-force southerly winds are blowing in the central and southern Adriatic on Saturday and are expected to spread to the northern Adriatic by the evening, with gusts of 20 to 29 metres per second, the Croatian Ministry of the Interior said in a weather alert.

Heavy rain is falling in the northern Adriatic, northern Dalmatia and the Dalmatian hinterland, Lika and Gorski Kotar, and thundery showers are expected locally. Heavy rainfall is also expected in continental Croatia, so that torrential floods are possible.

A storm, accompanied by strong gusts of wind and a whirlwind, struck the northern coastal resort town of Umag on Friday evening, leaving considerable property damage in its wake. One boat sank in the harbour, the roof of the local administration building was damaged, chairs from the terraces of nearby cafes and restaurants were scattered about by the wind, and trees were knocked down.

The local fire service responded to several calls to help pump out the water from the flooded premises. No one was injured.

Flood defence measures were in place at several locations near rivers because of rising water levels.