·

Thunderstorm hits Zadar and becomes stationary, causing unprecedented flash flood, Croatia

severe-flash-flood-zadar-croatia-september-11-2017

A severe thunderstorm that swept over Italy on September 10, 2017, causing at least 6 deaths, reached Croatia during the late afternoon hours, dumping heavy rain.

Heavy rain continued through the rest of the day and overnight, breaking, in some areas, monthly rainfall averages.

At least one destructive tornadic waterspout was reported. It eventually reached land and hit Gornje Selo on the island of Šolta, downing trees and damaging several houses.

Animation courtesy EUMETSAT via DHMZ. September 11, 2017 – 05:00 – 12:00 CET (+2 UTC)

Around 08:00 CET (06:00 UTC) on September 11, a large Cumulonimbus cloud positioned itself over the coastal city of Zadar and became stationary, dumping heavy rain for several hours and causing severe flash flooding, described by local media as catastrophic and unprecedented.

As reported by the city's civil protection service, the situation in the entire Zadar County is very serious after heavy rain flooded numerous buildings, schools, and kindergartens. The situation is especially critical in the city's main hospital where damage is already counted in millions of euros. Surgeries are being canceled and non-critical patients sent home as the hospital sustained severe damage.

Traffic was brought to a standstill as numerous roads and underpasses flooded in a matter of hours, prompting authorities to urge residents to stay in their homes and avoid driving.

Thunderstorm over Zadar, September 11, 2017 at 10:12 UTC

Thunderstorm over Zadar, September 11, 2017 at 10:12 UTC (12:12 CET). Credit: Blitzortung

Residents are reporting widespread power and mobile phone service outages.

"This cloud is now acting like a small nuclear power plant," said Anđelko Vidović, chief meteorologist for DHMZ's (State Hydrometeorological Institute) office in Zadar.

According to data provided by Pljusak.com, parts of this region received up to 173 mm (6.8 inches) of rain within the first 12 hours (CET) of September 11. Most of it, it appears, fell within just several hours.

Heavy rain associated with this storm is expected to last through late afternoon, Vidović said.

The heaviest rain the city of Zadar has ever experienced was 352 mm (13.8 inches) on September 10, 1986, he added.

Featured image: Severe flash flood hits Zadar, Croatia on September 11, 2017. Credit: AntennaTV

Share:

Commenting rules and guidelines

We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:

  • Treat others with kindness and respect.
  • Stay on topic and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
  • Do not use abusive or hateful language.
  • Do not spam or promote unrelated products or services.
  • Do not post any personal information or content that is illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *