Wheater in Croatia: Meet Wind Jugo

Wind jugo is mainly mentioned in the story, along with wind bora. Dalmatians will be happy to give you a comparison of these two winds and highlight which one they prefer. The bora, the wind we have already met, is praised by many for the freshness it brings and the clean air, although it often causes various misfortunes, especially in traffic.

Jugo, on the other hand, is something completely different. Then why do the locals frown and talk about the south with indignation? And especially if you ask them while the south wind is blowing.

What is the jugo wind like?

The jugo wind blows from the south and southeast on the Adriatic Sea. It brings rain and humidity and blows from the sea to the mainland. It is a warm and humid wind that brings cloudy and rainy weather. When the jugo wind blows, huge waves are often created, which are impressive and interfere with significant maritime traffic. When it is strong enough, the south can also affect road traffic, although to a much lesser extent than the bura.

How is the wind formed?

The jugo winds from above the Sahara desert. The heated air fails to mix with the cold air front from a higher altitude, thus shifting below the cold front and its borders over the Adriatic and southeastern Europe, where the south (scirocco) gains altitude before the Alps.

Accompanied by the jugo, small amounts of Sahara red sand are often seen, which this wind brings with it. This dust stays on the surfaces and is visible, for example, on windows, fences, and especially cars, so you will get advice not to wash your car during such times because it will be dirty again in a couple of hours.

When does the jugo wind blow?

The winter jugo wind lasts up to nine days, and sometimes up to three weeks with breaks, and in the summer in most cases no longer than three days. It usually blows in the cold part of the year, and it is not uncommon to blow in the summer. In the southern Adriatic, it usually blows from the beginning of autumn to the end of winter, and in the north, from the end of winter to the beginning of summer.

Is it a strong wind?

The speed of the south ranges from 10 m/s to 30 m/s. Jugo never clogs suddenly, and reaches full strength after 24 to 36 hours of blowing. Jugo can also be stormy, and the real power is usually reached during the third day from the beginning of blowing. It occurs more often and more strongly in the southern part of the Adriatic than in the northern region.

Unlike the bura, which blows in the gusts, the jugo is a uniform wind. It can blow at any time of the day, but it usually starts blowing in the morning. His termination can be expected in the afternoon and evening.

Before it starts to rain, the south wind gets a little stronger and weakens during the rain. As it rains, the wind is weaker.

Why don’t we love the jugo?

Jugo causes depression, body aches, and irritability. In this unique part of the world, the jugo is an acceptable excuse for various behaviors. Historically, the people who committed the crime while the south wind was blowing used that fact in their defense. During the time of the Republic of Dubrovnik, a special law was in force which prescribed that during the jugo, no deliberations, decisions, or regulations may be made. Even during the trial for crimes committed while the strong jugo wind was blowing, they were viewed more leniently and punished less.

If you find yourself in Dalmatia while the jugo wind is blowing, you will indeed feel the influence of the south. Aside from just changing the weather to cloudy and rainy, chances are you’ll encounter unkind people, nervous people, or unusual reactions. If you experience some symptoms such as headaches and lethargy, you will realize that you are a bit affected by Jugo Syndrome and that you would prefer to avoid people or quarrel with someone who looks at you wrong or breathes too loudly. Then you will quickly understand what the jugo wind is!