Tuesday, 4 August 2026
Nevera risk assessment tool
Nevera Risk Assessment Tool
The maps below are centred on the assessment position supplied in the page URL.
Surface pressure
Examine the pressure distribution, pressure gradient and associated synoptic-scale circulation.
Dew point
Dew point provides an indication of the amount of moisture available in the lower atmosphere.
CAPE index
CAPE indicates the potential buoyant energy available for convection. It must be interpreted together with triggering, moisture, inhibition and wind shear.
Relative humidity
Relative humidity helps describe how close the air is to saturation at the selected atmospheric level.
Sunday, 2 August 2026
Bora, the Adriatic wind every skipper must understand
Introduction
If there is one word every sailor hears within days of arriving in Croatia, it is Bora.
Ask local sailors about dangerous weather, and they will quickly point towards the Velebit Channel, Senj or the Pag Bridge. Pilot books describe exposed anchorages, marinas display Bora warnings, and weather forecasts often announce its arrival one or two days in advance. For good reason.
The Bora is the Adriatic’s most famous wind. It can produce sustained gale-force winds and violent gusts exceeding 50 or even 70 knots in exposed locations. Unlike a Nevera, however, the Bora rarely arrives unannounced. It is one of the best understood and most predictable weather hazards in the Adriatic. Therefore, understanding why it forms and how to monitor should be part of every skipper’s preparation before sailing these waters.
Saturday, 1 August 2026
Why Adriatic weather is unique: Bora versus Nevera?
Bora or nevera? Two Adriatic hazards every visiting skipper should understand
Ask a sailor preparing for a first cruise in the northern Adriatic which local weather hazard they have heard about, and the answer will almost certainly be the Bora.
Before long, they will learn where it blows hardest, which channels become dangerous, which anchorages should be avoided, and where to find reliable forecasts. Every marina, pilot book and cruising guide discusses the Bora. It is rightly respected as one of the defining winds of the Adriatic.
My own experience was no different.
Having sailed extensively in Norway and the French Mediterranean, I was already familiar with powerful katabatic winds. Before arriving in Croatia, I had read about the Bora, learned how it develops, and understood how to monitor forecasts
What I had never heard about was the Nevera.
I first encountered the word in a newspaper article describing the violent storm that struck Rovinj in June 2025. Later that same year, I experienced three Neveras myself. One of them dragged my boat ashore while we were anchored overnight in the Venetian Lagoon, despite what appeared to be a relatively benign weather forecast.
That experience made me realise something important. I had learned how to forecast the wind but I had never learned how to forecast convective weather. And that, I believe, is a gap shared by many sailors visiting the Adriatic.
Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Why Adriatic weather can challenge experienced sailors?
After more than 40 years of sailing in different parts of the world, I thought I had developed a sound routine for interpreting weather forecasts before and during a passage. Like many experienced sailors, I would carefully examine the wind forecast, pressure systems, expected gusts and sea state before deciding whether to sail, where to anchor, or when to seek shelter.
Then, on a summer passage to Venice, I learned the important lesson that Adriatic weather can surprise experienced sailors...
Thursday, 4 September 2025
Meeting with a nevera on the way to Venice, 21 August 2025
Sunday, 27 July 2025
Adriatic weather forecast sites
