WORLD 🔗 Part of: Natural Disasters and Environmental Emergencies (29) · 21 Jul 2026 · 03:58 GMT ·1 min read

Understanding the Adriatic Meteotsunami: Causes, Risks, and Historical Precedents

On July 20, 2026, a meteotsunami struck the Croatia, flooding harbor promenades and local businesses.

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On July 20, 2026, a meteotsunami struck the Croatia, flooding harbor promenades and local businesses. The sea level rose 30 centimeters for 20 minutes before receding. No major structural damage was reported, though witnesses described panic among tourists on the promenade. Experts from the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service note that Adriatic bay geometry can amplify these waves, which are caused by air pressure shifts rather than tectonic activity. This follows a similar event on the island of Hvar on July 16, 2026, highlighting the difficulty of predicting such phenomena.

Context

Meteotsunamis are atmospheric-driven sea level oscillations. While distinct from tectonic tsunamis, they have long been recognized in the Adriatic region under local names like Šćiga or Seš.

Supportive perspectives

The event in Mali Lošinj remained relatively minor. No major damage was reported following the flooding of the harbor promenade, cafes, and restaurants.
The event unfolded without warning. According to Frankfurter Rundschau, water rose and flooded cafes, restaurants, and sections of the harbor promenade before receding.
The Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service provides a clear scientific basis for the event. Petra Mikuš Jurković, deputy director of the service, stated that the specific geometry of Adriatic bays and harbors can amplify meteotsunami waves.

Critical perspectives

Predictability remains a significant challenge. The German Weather Service states that forecasting meteotsunamis is difficult because it requires measuring small-scale air pressure and sea level fluctuations.
Certain harbor towns face disproportionate risk. Petra Mikuš Jurković of the DHMZ identified Stari Grad (Hvar) and Vela Luka (Korčula) as especially susceptible due to their bay geometry the same factor that amplified the 1978 Vela Luka event to six-meter wave heights.
The frequency of these events poses a concern for coastal safety. A similar meteotsunami event occurred on the island of Hvar on July 16, 2026, just four days before the Mali Lošinj incident.