Record-breaking rainfall hits Split, causing widespread flooding, Croatia

Record-breaking rainfall hit the Croatian city of Split on Thursday, December 3, 2020, causing traffic chaos and flooding homes and businesses. 

The meteorological station at Marijan registered 118.8 mm (4.6 inches) of rain between 07:00 and 13:00 LT (06:00 – 12:00 UTC), which is comparable to the station's largest 24-hour rainfall for any day of the year.

This is now the city's largest 24-hour rainfall for the month of December and the third-highest for any time of the year.

The last time Split saw this much rain was on August 25, 1975 — 131.6 mm (5.1 inches). The city's all-time 24-hour record was set on September 6, 1948, with 228.5 mm (8.9 inches).

The country's highest 24-hour rainfall record was set in September 1986 when the city of Zadar registered 345 mm (13.5 inches).

Almost all roads throughout the city were flooded, with some of them reportedly turning into raging rivers.

Floodwaters in some parts of the city reached as high as 1.5 m (4.9 feet), causing traffic chaos and flooding homes and businesses.

Authorities urged residents to take extra caution and stay home when possible as more heavy rain is in the forecast in the days ahead.

Featured image credit: dalmacijadanas.hr