Articles | Volume 21, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-2929-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-2929-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
19 Nov 2025
Research article |
| 19 Nov 2025
| 19 Nov 2025
Catalogue of extreme sea levels recorded at tide-gauge station Bakar in the northeastern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean)
Iva Međugorac
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 13, Rožna dolina, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
Slovenian Environment Agency, Vojkova 1b, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 95, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Karla Jambrošić
Croatia Control Ltd., Ul. Rudolfa Fizira 2, 10410 Velika Gorica, Croatia
Domagoj Dolički
Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, Ravnice 48, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Josipa Kuzmić
Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, Ravnice 48, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Jadranka Šepić
Faculty of Science, University of Split, R. Boškovića 33, 21000 Split, Croatia
Iva Vrkić Seidl
Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 95, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Goran Gašparac
Amego Ltd., Vinogorska 59a, Zagreb, Croatia
Cited articles
Accerboni, E. and Manca, B.: Storm surge forecasting in the Adriatic Sea by means of a 2d hydrodynamical numerical model, B. Geofis. Teor. Appl., 15, 3–22, 1973.
Bajo, M., Međugorac, I., Umgiesser, G., and Orlić, M.: Storm surge and seiche modelling in the Adriatic Sea and the impact of data assimilation, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 145, 2070–2084, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3544, 2019.
Bajo, M., Ferrarin, C., Umgiesser, G., Bonometto, A., and Coraci, E.: Modelling the barotropic sea level in the Mediterranean Sea using data assimilation, Ocean Sci., 19, 559–579, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-559-2023, 2023.
Bertotti, L., Bidlot, J.-R., Buizza, R., Cavaleri, L., and Janousek, M.: Deterministic and ensemble-based prediction of Adriatic Sea sirocco storms leading to `acqua alta' in Venice, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 137, 1446–1466, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.861, 2011.
Biolchi, S., Denamiel, C., Devoto, S., Korbar, T., Macovaz, V., Scicchitano, G., Vilibić, I., and Furlani, S.: Impact of the October 2018 storm Vaia on coastal boulders in the Northern Adriatic Sea, Water, 11, 2229, https://doi.org/10.3390/w11112229, 2019.
Bowen, A. J., Inman, D. L., and Simmons, V. P.: Wave set-down and set-up, J. Geophys. Res., 73, 2569–2577, https://doi.org/10.1029/JB073i008p02569, 1968.
Calafat, F. M., Chambers, D. P., and Tsimplis, M. N.: Mechanisms of decadal sea level variability in the eastern North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 117, 2012JC008285, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JC008285, 2012.
Canestrelli, P., Mandich, M., Pirazzoli, P. A., and Tomasin, A.: Wind, Depression and Seiches: Tidal Perturbations in Venice (1950–2000), https://www.comune.venezia.it/sites/comune.venezia.it/files/documenti/centro_maree/bibliografia/Venti_depressioni_e_sesse_ridotto.pdf (last access: 10 December 2024), 2001.
Cavaleri, L., Bertotti, L., Buizza, R., Buzzi, A., Masato, V., Umgiesser, G., and Zampieri, M.: Predictability of extreme meteo-oceanographic events in the Adriatic Sea, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 136, 400–413, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.567, 2010.
Cavaleri, L., Bajo, M., Barbariol, F., Bastianini, M., Benetazzo, A., Bertotti, L., Chiggiato, J., Davolio, S., Ferrarin, C., Magnusson, L., Papa, A., Pezzutto, P., Pomaro, A., and Umgiesser, G.: The October 29, 2018 storm in Northern Italy – An exceptional event and its modeling, Prog. Oceanogr., 178, 102178, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2019.102178, 2019.
Cavaleri, L., Bajo, M., Barbariol, F., Bastianini, M., Benetazzo, A., Bertotti, L., Chiggiato, J., Ferrarin, C., Trincardi, F., and Umgiesser, G.: The 2019 flooding of Venice and its implications for future predictions, Oceanography, 33, 42–49, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2020.105, 2020.
Cerovečki, I., Orlić, M., and Hendershott, M. C.: Adriatic seiche decay and energy loss to the Mediterranean, Deep-Sea Res. Pt. I., 44, 2007–2029, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0967-0637(97)00056-3, 1997.
Civilna zaštita: Consequences of the stormy weather, https://civilna-
zastita.gov.hr/vijesti/posljedice-olujnog-nevremena-2055/2055 (last access: 4 November 2024), 24 December 2019.
Corsini, S. and Ferla, M.: Sea level observing activity in Italy, https://gloss-sealevel.org/sites/gloss/files/publications/documents/italy_gexi2009.pdf (last access: 1 November 2024), 2009.
Dalmacija Danas: Storm hits Dalmatia: severe sirocco winds up to 112 km/h wreak havoc on Split’s beaches, part of the coast flooded again, https://www.dalmacijadanas.hr/nevrijeme-pogodilo-dalmaciju-olujno-jugo-do-112-km-h-napravilo-kaos-na-splitskim-plazama-dio-obale-ponovno-pod-morem/ (last access: 4 November 2024), 9 December 2021.
De Zolt, S., Lionello, P., Nuhu, A., and Tomasin, A.: The disastrous storm of 4 November 1966 on Italy, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 6, 861–879, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-6-861-2006, 2006.
DHMZ: Products and services, https://meteo.hr/proi
zvodi_e.php?section=proizvodi_usluge¶m=services (last access: 10 December 2024), 2024.
Dubrovački vjesnik: Lapad waterfront flooded, the sea entered the pool of Hotel Lapad, Orsan under water. And look at Slano!, https://dubrovacki.slobodnadalmacija.hr/dubrovnik/zupanija/dubrovnik/poplavljena-lapadska-obala-more-uslo-u-bazen-hotela-lapad-a-pogledajte-kako-tek-izgleda-slano-1242695 (last access: 1 November 2024), 22 November 2022.
DWD: Archive of analysis charts, https://www.wetter3.de/archiv_dwd_dt.html (last access: 1 October 2024), 2024.
Enzi, S. and Camuffo, D.: Documentary sources of the sea surges in Venice fromad 787 to 1867, Nat. Hazards, 12, 225–287, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00596222, 1995.
Eusebi Borzelli, G. L. and Carniel, S.: A reconciling vision of the Adriatic-Ionian Bimodal Oscillating System, Sci. Rep.-UK, 13, 2334, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29162-2, 2023.
Ferrarin, C., Valentini, A., Vodopivec, M., Klaric, D., Massaro, G., Bajo, M., De Pascalis, F., Fadini, A., Ghezzo, M., Menegon, S., Bressan, L., Unguendoli, S., Fettich, A., Jerman, J., Ličer, M., Fustar, L., Papa, A., and Carraro, E.: Integrated sea storm management strategy: the 29 October 2018 event in the Adriatic Sea, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 73–93, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-20-73-2020, 2020.
Ferrarin, C., Bajo, M., Benetazzo, A., Cavaleri, L., Chiggiato, J., Davison, S., Davolio, S., Lionello, P., Orlić, M., and Umgiesser, G.: Local and large-scale controls of the exceptional Venice floods of November 2019, Prog. Oceanogr., 197, 102628, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2021.102628, 2021.
Ferrarin, C., Lionello, P., Orlić, M., Raicich, F., and Salvadori, G.: Venice as a paradigm of coastal flooding under multiple compound drivers, Sci. Rep.-UK, 12, 5754, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-09652-5, 2022.
Ferrarin, C., Orlić, M., Bajo, M., Davolio, S., Umgiesser, G., and Lionello, P.: The contribution of a mesoscale cyclone and associated meteotsunami to the exceptional flood in Venice on November 12, 2019, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 149, 2929–2942, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.4539, 2023.
Finizio, C., Palmieri, S., and Riccucci, A.: A numerical model of the Adriatic for the prediction of high tides at Venice, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 98, 86–104, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.49709841508, 1972.
Fukumori, I., Menemenlis, D., and Lee, T.: A near-uniform basin-wide sea level fluctuation of the Mediterranean Sea, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 37, 338–358, https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO3016.1, 2007.
Gačić, M., Borzelli, G. E., Civitarese, G., Cardin, V., and Yari, S.: Can internal processes sustain reversals of the ocean upper circulation? The Ionian Sea example, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, 100, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GL043216, 2010.
Glas Istre: Sirocco wind threatens flooding, https://glasistrenovine.hr/arhiva-portala/pregled-vijesti/jugo-zaprijetilo-poplavom-151266 (last access: 4 November 2024), 25 December 2009a.
Glas Istre: Flooding in Kantrida, https://glasistrenovine.hr/arhiva-portala/pregled-vijesti/poplavljena-kantrida-151351 (last access: 4 November 2024), 26 December 2009b.
Goldberg, J. and Kempni, K.: On the sea level oscillations in Bakar Bay and on the problem of bay seiches in general, Prirodosl. Istraživanja Kralj. Jugosl., 21, 9–235, 1938.
Grisogono, B. and Belušić, D.: A review of recent advances in understanding the mesoand microscale properties of the severe Bora wind, Tellus A, 61, 1–16, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0870.2008.00369.x, 2009.
Hersbach, H., Bell, B., Berrisford, P., Hirahara, S., Horányi, A., Muñoz-Sabater, J., Nicolas, J., Peubey, C., Radu, R., Schepers, D., Simmons, A., Soci, C., Abdalla, S., Abellan, X., Balsamo, G., Bechtold, P., Biavati, G., Bidlot, J., Bonavita, M., De Chiara, G., Dahlgren, P., Dee, D., Diamantakis, M., Dragani, R., Flemming, J., Forbes, R., Fuentes, M., Geer, A., Haimberger, L., Healy, S., Hogan, R. J., Hólm, E., Janisková, M., Keeley, S., Laloyaux, P., Lopez, P., Lupu, C., Radnoti, G., de Rosnay, P., Rozum, I., Vamborg, F., Villaume, S., and Thépaut, J.-N.: The ERA5 global reanalysis, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 146, 1999–2049, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3803, 2020.
Hersbach, H., Bell, B., Berrisford, P., Biavati, G., Horányi, A., Muñoz Sabater, J., Nicolas, J., Peubey, C., Radu, R., Rozum, I., Schepers, D., Simmons, A., Soci, C., Dee, D., Thépaut, J-N.: ERA5 hourly data on pressure levels from 1940 to present, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Climate Data Store (CDS) [data set], https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.bd0915c6 (last access: 20 September 2024), 2023a.
Hersbach, H., Bell, B., Berrisford, P., Biavati, G., Horányi, A., Muñoz Sabater, J., Nicolas, J., Peubey, C., Radu, R., Rozum, I., Schepers, D., Simmons, A., Soci, C., Dee, D., and Thépaut, J. N.: ERA5 hourly data on single levels from 1940 to present, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Climate Data Store (CDS) [data set], https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.adbb2d47, 2023b.
HHI: Record-breaking wave in the Adriatic Sea, https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/recordbreaking-wave-
in-adriatic-sea/530516 (last access: 1 October 2024), 2024.
Hrvatska Danas: Severe sirocco knocked down trees in Split, firefighters intervened on all sides, ferry lines interrupted, https://hrvatska-danas.com/2021/12/09/video-olujno-jugo-rusilo
-stabla-po-splitu-vatrogasci-intervenirali-na-sve-strane-trajektne
-linije-u-prekidu/ (last access: 4 November 2024), 9 December 2021.
Hrvatska vatrogasna zajednica: Interventions due to the storm, https://hvz.gov.hr/vijesti/753 (last access: 4 November 2024), 23 December 2019.
Index.hr: Floods hit Split, Šibenik, and Trogir. New forecasts released, https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/poplave-u- splitu-sibeniku-trogiru-objavljene-nove-prognoze/2414003.aspx (last access: 4 November 2024), 22 November 2022.
Istramet: Heavy rain already hits locally, high tide and severe sirocco - Antenal closed, https://www.istramet.hr (last access: 4 November 2024), 8 December 2020.
Janeković, I. and Kuzmić, M.: Numerical simulation of the Adriatic Sea principal tidal constituents, Ann. Geophys., 23, 3207–3218, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-23-3207-2005, 2005.
Jutarnji list: Jutarnji list, pages 4–5, 2 December 2008.
Jutarnji list: Heavy rains turn Kantrida stadium into a giant swimming pool, https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/obi
lne-kise-pretvorile-stadion-kantridu-u-ogromni-bazen-2882312 (last access: 4 November 2024), 25 December 2009.
Jutarnji list: Worst of the storm still to come: waterfronts and boats flooded, roads closed, back page, 29 October 2018a.
Jutarnji list: Trees uprooted in Istria, sailboats hurled in Zadar, page 12, 31 October/1 November 2018b.
Jutarnji list: Jutarnji list, back page, 14 November 2019a.
Jutarnji list: Jutarnji list, pages 6–7, 17 November 2019b.
Jutarnji list: Sea floods coast, severe sirocco blows, Vrgorac hit by flooding, new forecast issued, https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/diljem-obale-izlilo-se-
more-puse-orkansko-jugo-potop-kod-vrgorca-stigla-nova-prognoza-15035696 (last access: 4 Novmeber 2024), 8 December 2020.
Jutarnji list: Floods along the coast, several islands cut off from the mainland: wind topples trees, waterfronts under water, problems also in Slovenia, https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/
poplave-diljem-obale-niz-otoka-odsjeceno-od-kopna-vjetar-rusi-stabla-rive-pod-vodom-problemi-i-u-sloveniji-15278693 (last access: 4 November 2024), 22 November 2022.
Korbar, T., Navratil, D., Denamiel, C., Kordić, B., Biolchi, S., Vilibić, I., and Furlani, S.: Coarse-clast storm deposit and solitary boulders on the Island of Mana (NP Kornati, Central Adriatic, Croatia), Geosciences, 12, 355, https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12100355, 2022.
Landerer, F. W. and Volkov, D. L.: The anatomy of recent large sea level fluctuations in the Mediterranean Sea, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 553–557, https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50140, 2013.
Ličer, M., Estival, S., Reyes-Suarez, C., Deponte, D., and Fettich, A.: Lagrangian modelling of a person lost at sea during the Adriatic scirocco storm of 29 October 2018, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 2335–2349, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-20-2335-2020, 2020.
Lionello, P., Mufato, R., and Tomasin, A.: Sensitivity of free and forced oscillations of the Adriatic Sea to sea level rise, Clim. Res., 29, 23–39, https://doi.org/10.3354/cr029023, 2005.
Lionello, P., Sanna, A., Elvini, E., and Mufato, R.: A data assimilation procedure for operational prediction of storm surge in the northern Adriatic Sea, Cont. Shelf Res., 26, 539–553, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2006.01.003, 2006.
Lionello, P., Barriopedro, D., Ferrarin, C., Nicholls, R. J., Orlić, M., Raicich, F., Reale, M., Umgiesser, G., Vousdoukas, M., and Zanchettin, D.: Extreme floods of Venice: characteristics, dynamics, past and future evolution (review article), Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 2705–2731, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-21-2705-2021, 2021.
Maioni, E.: A catastrophic event: The Vaia Storm https://www.guidedolomiti.com/en/miscellaneous/storm-vaia/ (last access: 4 October 2024), 2024.
Malguzzi, P., Grossi, G., Buzzi, A., Ranzi, R., and Buizza, R.: The 1966 “century” flood in Italy: A meteorological and hydrological revisitation, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 111, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JD007111, 2006.
Marcos, M., Tsimplis, M. N., and Shaw, A. G. P.: Sea level extremes in southern Europe, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 114, C01007, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JC004912, 2009.
Međugorac, I. and Pasarić, M.: Exceptionally high sea levels in the northern Adriatic Sea, in: Marine Hazards, Coastal Vulnerability and Risk (mis)Perceptions, CIESM Workshop Monograph n° 52, edited by: Briand, F., CIESM Publisher, Paris, Monaco, 155–165, https://ciesm.org/online/monographs/index.htm (last access: 1 June 2025), 2024.
Međugorac, I., Pasarić, M., and Orlić, M.: Severe flooding along the eastern Adriatic coast: the case of 1 December 2008, Ocean Dynam., 65, 817–830, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-015-0835-9, 2015.
Međugorac, I., Pasarić, M., Pasarić, Z., and Orlić, M.: Two recent storm-surge episodes in the Adriatic, Int. J. Saf. Secur. Eng., 6, 589–596, https://doi.org/10.2495/SAFE-V6-N3-589-596, 2016.
Međugorac, I., Orlić, M., Janeković, I., Pasarić, Z., and Pasarić, M.: Adriatic storm surges and related cross-basin sea-level slope, J. Marine Syst., 181, 79–90, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2018.02.005, 2018.
Međugorac, I., Pasarić, M., and Güttler, I.: Will the wind associated with the Adriatic storm surges change in future climate?, Theor. Appl. Climatol., 143, 1–18, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-020-03379-x, 2021.
Međugorac, I., Pasarić, M., and Orlić, M.: Long-term measurements at Bakar tide-gauge station (east Adriatic), Geofizika, 39, 149–162, https://doi.org/10.15233/gfz.2022.39.8, 2022.
Međugorac, I., Pasarić, M., and Orlić, M.: Historical sea-level measurements at Bakar (east Adriatic), SEANOE [data set], https://doi.org/10.17882/85171, 2024a.
Međugorac, I., Jambrošić, K., Dolički, D., Kuzmić, J., Šepić, J., Vrkić Seidl, I., and Gašparac, G.: Adriatic storm surge catalogue, https://projekti.pmfst.unist.hr/floods/storm-surges/, last access: 18 December 2024b.
Medvedev, I. P., Vilibić, I., and Rabinovich, A. B.: Tidal resonance in the Adriatic Sea: observational evidence, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 125, e2020JC016168, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JC016168, 2020.
Mel, R. A., Coraci, E., Morucci, S., Crosato, F., Cornello, M., Casaioli, M., Mariani, S., Carniello, L., Papa, A., Bonometto, A., and Ferla, M.: Insights on the extreme storm surge event of the 22 November 2022 in the Venice Lagoon, J. Mar. Sci. Eng., 11, 1750, https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11091750, 2023.
METEOALARM: Early Warnings for Europe, https://www.meteoalarm.org/en/live/ (last access: 1 October 2024), 2024.
Mihanović, H., Vilibić, I., Dunić, N., and Šepić J.: Mapping of decadal middle Adriatic oceanographic variability and its relation to the BiOS regime, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 120, 5615–5630, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JC010725, 2015.
MorskiHR: Waves the height of a two-story building batter Dubrovnik’s city walls!, https://www.morski.hr/dubrovacke-zidine-lupaju-valovi-visine-dvokatnice/ (last access: 4 November 2024), 9 December 2021.
Morucci, S., Coraci, E., Crosato, F., and Ferla, M.: Extreme events in Venice and in the North Adriatic Sea: 28–29 October 2018, Rend. Lincei Sci. Fis., 31, 113–122, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-020-00882-1, 2020.
Mosetti, F.: Problems on storm surges forecasting in the Northern Adriatic Sea, B. Geofis. Teor. Appl., 3, 263–297, 1985.
Novi list: Novi list, front page and page 4, 24 January 1966a.
Novi list: Novi list, pages 5–7, 5/6 November, 1966b.
Novi list: Consequences of the severe sirocco – more than half a billion in damage, page 4, 7 November 1966c.
Novi list: Novi list, pages 5–6, 25 November 1969a.
Novi list: Sea floods passenger waterfront, front page, 26 November 1969b.
Novi list: Novi list, front page and pages 2–3, 27 November 1969c.
Novi list: Novi list, front page and pages 5 and 10, 24 December 1979a.
Novi list: Heavy damage from sirocco wind and high tide, page 12, 25 December 1979b.
Novi list: Commission surveys port damage, page 12, 26 December 1979c.
Novi list: Novi list, front page and page 12, 27 October 1980.
Novi list: Raging sirocco wind, pages 2–8, 3 February 1986.
Novi list: Novi list, front page and page 8, 25 November 1987.
Novi list: Novi list, front page and pages 8 and 13, 11 December 1990.
Novi list: Restaurants flooded, furniture and equipment washed into the sea, page 5, 2 December 2008a.
Novi list: Novi list, page 4, 3 December 2008b.
Novi list: Novi list, page 17, 24 December 2009.
Novi list: Novi list, pages 14–15 and pages 22–23, 2 November 2012.
Novi list: Square flooded from below, back page, 30 October 2018a.
Novi list: Novi list, pages 2–5, 31 October/1 November 2018b.
Novi List: Storm hits Rab: heavy damage in historic center and port, https://projekti.pmfst.unist.hr/floods/storm-surges/episode-26-8-december-2021/ (last access: 4 November 2024), 10 December 2021.
Novi list: Floods and landslides along the coast, storm winds cause major traffic disruptions, https://www.novilist.hr/novosti/hrvatska/diljem-obale-poplave-
i-odroni-olujni-vjetar-stvara-velike-probleme-u-prometu (last access: 4 November 2024), 22 November 2022.
Obzor: Severe storm in the Adriatic, page 3, 16 December 1937.
Orlić, M. and Pasarić, M.: Sea-level changes and crustal movements recorded along the east Adriatic coast, Nuovo Cimento C, 23 C, 351–364, 2000.
Orlić, M. and Pasarić, M.: How to disentangle sea-level rise and a number of other processes influencing coastal floods?, Rend. Lincei Sci. Fis., 35, 371–380, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-024-01242-z, 2024.
Orlić, M., Pasarić, M., and Pasarić, Z.: Mediterranean sea-level variability in the second half of the twentieth century: a Bayesian approach to closing the budget, Pure Appl. Geophys., 175, 3973–3988, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-018-1974-y, 2018.
Otvoreno.hr: Severe storm damages Zadar’s Sea Organ, waves dislodge stone blocks, https://www.otvoreno.hr/vijesti/zbog-jakog-nevremena-ostecene-zadarske-morske-orgulje-valovi-izbacili-kamene-blokove/238611 (last access: 4 November 2024), 24 December 2019.
Pasarić, M.: Variations of sea level in the Adriatic caused by slowly changing air pressure and wind, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, 113 pp., 2000.
Pasarić, M. and Orlić, M.: Long-term meteorological preconditioning of the North Adriatic coastal floods, Cont. Shelf Res., 21, 263–278, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0278-4343(00)00078-9, 2001.
Pasarić, M., Pasarić, Z., and Orlić, M.: Response of the Adriatic sea level to the air pressure and wind forcing at low frequencies (0.01–0.1 cpd), J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 105, 11423–11439, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JC900023, 2000.
Pawlowicz, R., Beardsley, B., and Lentz, S.: Classical tidal harmonic analysis including error estimates in MATLAB using T_TIDE, Comput. Geosci., 28, 929–937, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0098-3004(02)00013-4, 2002.
Pérez-Gómez, B., García-León, M., García-Valdecasas, J., Clementi, E., Mösso Aranda, C., Pérez-Rubio, S., Masina, S., Coppini, G., Molina-Sánchez, R., Muñoz-Cubillo, A., García Fletcher, A., Sánchez González, J. F., Sánchez-Arcilla, A., and Álvarez Fanjul, E.: Understanding sea level processes during Western Mediterranean storm Gloria, Front. Mar. Sci., 8, 647437, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.647437, 2021.
Pérez Gómez, B., Vilibić, I., Šepić, J., Međugorac, I., Ličer, M., Testut, L., Fraboul, C., Marcos, M., Abdellaoui, H., Álvarez Fanjul, E., Barbalić, D., Casas, B., Castaño-Tierno, A., Čupić, S., Drago, A., Fraile, M. A., Galliano, D. A., Gauci, A., Gloginja, B., Martín Guijarro, V., Jeromel, M., Larrad Revuelto, M., Lazar, A., Keskin, I. H., Medvedev, I., Menassri, A., Meslem, M. A., Mihanović, H., Morucci, S., Niculescu, D., Quijano de Benito, J. M., Pascual, J., Palazov, A., Picone, M., Raicich, F., Said, M., Salat, J., Sezen, E., Simav, M., Sylaios, G., Tel, E., Tintoré, J., Zaimi, K., and Zodiatis, G.: Coastal sea level monitoring in the Mediterranean and Black seas, Ocean Sci., 18, 997–1053, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-997-2022, 2022.
Pervan, M., and Šepić, J.: Analysis of the eastern Adriatic sea level extremes, St Open, 4, 1–19, https://doi.org/10.48188/so.4.10, 2023.
Pinardi, N., Bonaduce, A., Navarra, A., Dobricic, S., and Oddo, P.: The mean sea level equation and its application to the Mediterranean Sea, J. Climate, 27, 442–447, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-13-00139.1, 2014.
Pirazzoli, P. A.: Recent sea-level changes and related engineering problems in the Lagoon of Venice (Italy), Prog. Oceanogr., 18, 323–346, https://doi.org/10.1016/0079-6611(87)90038-3, 1987.
Portal Istra Terra Magica: Severe storm hits Istrian coast - sea in Pula rises by 60 cm, https://www.istriaterramagica.eu/novosti/jako-nevrijeme-diljem-istarske-obale-u-puli-more-poraslo-za-cak-60-cm/ (last access: 4 November 2024), 22 November 2022.
Primorske novine: Storm in Dalmatia, 17 December 1937.
Pugh, D. T. and Thompson, K. R.: The subtidal behaviour of the Celtic Sea—I. Sea level and bottom pressures, Cont. Shelf Res., 5, 293–319, https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-4343(86)90001-4, 1986.
Radio Dalmacija: Split: Stormy sirocco topples trees, scaffolding board falls on passerby, https://www.radiodalmacija.hr/split-olujno-jugo-rusilo-stabla-daska-sa-skele-pala-na-prolaznika/ (last access: 4 November 2024), 9 December 2021.
Raicich, F., Orlic, M., and Malacic, V.: A case study of the Adriatic seiches (December 1997), Nuovo Cimento C, 22C, 1999.
Roland, A., Cucco, A., Ferrarin, C., Hsu, T.-W., Liau, J.-M., Ou, S.-H., Umgiesser, G., and Zanke, U.: On the development and verification of a 2-D coupled wave-current model on unstructured meshes, J. Marine Syst., 78, S244–S254, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2009.01.026, 2009.
Rožić, N.: Hrvatski transformacijski model visina, State Geodetic Directorate, https://www.cropos.hr/files/docs/Izvjesca_o_znanstveno_strucnim_projektima_2006_2008.pdf#page=23 (last access: 4 November 2024), 2009.
Ruić, K., Šepić, J., Mlinar, M., and Međugorac, I.: Contribution of high-frequency (T < 2 h) sea level oscillations to the Adriatic sea level maxima, Nat. Hazards, 116, 3747–3777, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-023-05834-0, 2023.
Rus, M., Fettich, A., Kristan, M., and Ličer, M.: HIDRA2: deep-learning ensemble sea level and storm tide forecasting in the presence of seiches – the case of the northern Adriatic, Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 271–288, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-271-2023, 2023.
Rus, M., Mihanović, H., Ličer, M., and Kristan, M.: HIDRA3: a deep-learning model for multipoint ensemble sea level forecasting in the presence of tide gauge sensor failures, Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 605–620, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-605-2025, 2025.
Schwab, D. J. and Rao, D. B.: Barotropic oscillations of the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, Tellus A, 35A, 417–427, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0870.1983.tb00216.x, 1983.
Šepić, J., Orlić, M., and Vilibić, I.: The Bakar Bay seiches and their relationship with atmospheric processes, Acta Adriat., 49, 107–123, 2008.
Šepić, J., Pasarić, M., Međugorac, I., Vilibić, I., Karlović, M., and Mlinar, M.: Climatology and process-oriented analysis of the Adriatic sea level extremes, Prog. Oceanogr., 209, 102908, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2022.102908, 2022.
Šibenski: Storm claims a life: man (66) fell into sea while tying boat, daughter pulled him out but rescue was impossible, https://sibenski.slobodnadalmacija.hr/sibenik/vijesti/crna-kroni
ka/nevrijeme-odnijelo-i-jedan-zivot-muskarac-66-htio-priveza
ti-brod-pa-upao-u-more-kcer-ga-izvukla-ali-spasa-mu-nije-bilo-
639916 (last access: 4 November 2024), 24 December 2019.
Šibenski portal Moć komunikacije: Brodarica unrecognizable: sea floods nearly all piers and quays, strong sirocco scatters gravel across the road, https://mok.hr/vijesti/item/36413-neprepoznatljiva-brodarica-more-poplavilo-gotovo-sva-mula-i-rivice-jako-jugo-na-cestu-izbacilo-sljunak (last access: 4 November 2024), 22 November 2022.
Slivinski, L. C., Compo, G. P., Whitaker, J. S., Sardeshmukh, P. D., Giese, B. S., McColl, C., Allan, R., Yin, X., Vose, R., Titchner, H., Kennedy, J., Spencer, L. J., Ashcroft, L., Brönnimann, S., Brunet, M., Camuffo, D., Cornes, R., Cram, T. A., Crouthamel, R., Domínguez-Castro, F., Freeman, J. E., Gergis, J., Hawkins, E., Jones, P. D., Jourdain, S., Kaplan, A., Kubota, H., Blancq, F. L., Lee, T.-C., Lorrey, A., Luterbacher, J., Maugeri, M., Mock, C. J., Moore, G. W. K., Przybylak, R., Pudmenzky, C., Reason, C., Slonosky, V. C., Smith, C. A., Tinz, B., Trewin, B., Valente, M. A., Wang, X. L., Wilkinson, C., Wood, K., and Wyszyński, P.: Towards a more reliable historical reanalysis: Improvements for version 3 of the Twentieth Century Reanalysis system, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 145, 2876–2908, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3598, 2019.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Slobodna Dalmacija, page 3, 26 December 1958.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Slobodna Dalmacija, pages 3 and 6, 27 November 1969.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Severe sirocco hits, front page, 24 December 1979a.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Storm hits Orebić: Trstenica beach damaged, page 3, 25 December 1979b.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Slobodna Dalmacija, page 4, 27 October 1980.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Slobodna Dalmacija, page 3, 3 February 1986.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Slobodna Dalmacija, pages 3 and 7, 26 November 1987.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Slobodna Dalmacija, page 4, 11 December 1990.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Slobodna Dalmacija, front page and pages 4–5, 2 December 2008.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Slobodna Dalmacija, pages 6–7, 4 December 2010.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Slobodna Dalmacija, pages 13 and 16, 2 November 2012a.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Slobodna Dalmacija, pages 14–15, 3 November 2012b.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Floods cannot be faced in sneakers, page 2, 30 October 2018a.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Slobodna Dalmacija, pages 18–21, 31 October/1 November 2018b.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Slobodna Dalmacija, https://projekti.pmfst.unist.hr/floods/storm-surges/episode-24-23-december-2019/ (last access: 4 November 2024), 25 December 2019.
Storm Barra – Copernicus: Image of the day: Storm Barra, https://www.copernicus.eu/hr/node/11329 (last access: 28 July 2024), 2024.
Stravisi, F. and Marussi, S. A.: Analysis of a storm surge in Adriatic Sea by means of a 2-dimensional linear-model, Atti Accad. Naz. Lin., 54, 243–260, 1973.
Toomey, T., Amores, A., Marcos, M., and Orfila, A.: Coastal sea levels and wind-waves in the Mediterranean Sea since 1950 from a high-resolution ocean reanalysis, Front. Mar. Sci., 9, 991504, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.991504, 2022.
Tosi, L., Teatini, P., and Strozzi, T.: Natural versus anthropogenic subsidence of Venice, Sci. Rep.-UK, 3, 2710, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep02710, 2013.
Trigo, I. F. and Davies, T. D.: Meteorological conditions associated with sea surges in Venice: a 40 year climatology, Int. J. Climatol., 22, 787–803, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.719, 2002.
Trincardi, F., Barbanti, A., Bastianini, M., Cavaleri, L., and Chiggiato, J.: The 1966 flooding of Venice: what time taught us for the future, Oceanography, 29, 178–186, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2016.87, 2016.
Vatrogasni portal: Kantrida Stadium left completely underwater, https://www.vatrogasni-portal.com/news.php?readmore=4081 (last access: 4 November 2024), 25 December 2009.
Večernji list: Večernji list, front page and page 7, 5 November 1966a.
Večernji list: Večernji list, page 6, 7 November 1966b.
Večernji list: Večernji list, front page and page 11, 24 January 1966c.
Večernji list: Večernji list, front page and page 5, 4 November 1968.
Večernji list: Storms, snow, and colder weather, page 3, 28/29/30 November 1969.
Večernji list: Večernji list, back page, 24 December 1979.
Večernji list: Večernji list, front page and page 6, 27 October 1980.
Večernji list: Breakwater breached, boats submerged, page 5, 11 December 1990.
Večernji list: Večernji list, pages 8–9, 2 December 2008.
Večernji list: Severe sirocco submerges boats, page 4, , 31 October/1 November 2018.
Venice Municipality: Exceptional high waters, https://www.comune.venezia.it/it/content/le-acque-alte-eccezionali (last access: 1 October 2024), 2024.
Vjesnik: Severe sirocco hits the Adriatic, page 5, 5 November 1966.
Vjesnik: Sea level rises by as much as 117 centimeters, page 5, 2 December 2008.
Vjesnik: Defensive embankment construction in Metković to start this spring, page 7, 4/5 December 2010.
Volkov, D. L., Baringer, M., Smeed, D., Johns, W., and Landerer, F. W.: Teleconnection between the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and sea sevel in the Mediterranean Sea, J. Climate, 32, 935–955, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-18-0474.1, 2019.
Zadarski.hr: In just 30 seconds, a waterspout left real devastation – tearing off roofs, toppling trees …, https://zadarski.slobodnadalmacija.hr/zadar/fotoreport/pijavica-
za-svega-30-sekundi-ostavila-pravu-pustos-rusila-krovove-lomila-stabla-639948 (last access: 4 November 2024), 23 December 2019.
Zampato, L., Bajo, M., Canestrelli, P., and Umgiesser, G.: Storm surge modelling in Venice: two years of operational results, J. Oper. Oceanogr., 9, s46–s57, https://doi.org/10.1080/1755876X.2015.1118804, 2016.
Žust, L., Fettich, A., Kristan, M., and Ličer, M.: HIDRA 1.0: deep-learning-based ensemble sea level forecasting in the northern Adriatic, Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 2057–2074, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-2057-2021, 2021.
Short summary
Flooding caused by storm surges in the Adriatic Sea has been increasingly observed. To better understand this rise in occurrence, we compiled a catalogue of 27 major flood events, each analyzed with respect to the governing processes and associated coastal impacts. The analysis is based on ERA5 data and hourly sea levels recorded at Croatia’s oldest tide-gauge station, Bakar, in the period between 1929 and 2022.
Flooding caused by storm surges in the Adriatic Sea has been increasingly observed. To better...
