Southern and central Bohemia with the Vysočina region will be affected by extreme storms, and there is also a risk of floods
“A zone of extremely strong storms is gradually passing through southern Bohemia to the northeast,” meteorologists warn. At the Boubín station, for example, it rained over 40 mm in 30 minutes. According to the warning, the storms are accompanied by “relatively significant lightning activity”. The warning against extremely strong thunderstorms is valid for the South Bohemian Region until Friday at 10.30 pm.
In the Central Bohemian Region and the Vysočina Region, “an exceptional occurrence of extremely strong storms is expected, which will mostly turn into rain in the second half of the night,” meteorologists announced shortly after eight o’clock in the evening.
Thunderstorms will be accompanied mainly by torrential rains, hail and strong gusts of wind. Locally, it can be, for example, around 100 mm. The warning for the Central Bohemian Region and the Vysočina Region is valid until Saturday 08:00.
“In Prague in Botič, the first degree of flood activity has already been reached and the level will continue to rise,” the institute wrote on Facebook before ten o’clock in the evening. The current situation can be monitored on the CHMI website.
In the Blatensko region, at the Sedlice station, it rained over 35 mm in a storm in 30 minutes. The zone of very strong storms accompanied by intense torrential rain spread to the north to the northeast to Prague. Intense precipitation will cause flooding of the lower places and rapid distribution of smaller streams and other times dry riverbeds.
Prague firefighters announced on their Twitter that they had intervened in seven cases by eleven o’clock in the evening. These were mainly flooded cellars and fallen branches.
CHMI has previously announced a significant weakening of the southern part of the storm zone, which stretches in the axis of Jindřichův Hradec and Jablonec nad Nisou. According to the editor of MF DNES, three streets in Strakonice closed the rain. There is also a local viaduct under water.
“A new zone of strong storms is coming over Šumava from Germany. We assume that this zone will move further to the northeast, although Šumava and then the pool of cold air from previous storms, which were east of České Budějovice, may weaken, “he warned in the early evening on his Facebook account.
The second warning level applies to the Ústí nad Labem, Liberec, Hradec Králové and Pardubice regions. The alert was updated on Friday night, ending at 8 a.m. on Saturday. It can rain up to 70 mm locally, very strong thunderstorms are expected, which will turn into rain in the second half of the night. According to meteorologists, the strongest thunderstorms will come in the evening.
During Friday, meteorologists also wrote that a phenomenon called backbuilding is observable on some showers. This means that the storm resumes upstream. “These storms can (but do not always!) Be very dangerous in terms of torrential rain. We are still monitoring the situation, “the institute wrote.
There is a risk of flooding of small streams
Due to torrential rain, small streams and dry riverbeds can be flooded, subways, underpasses or cellars can be flooded. CHMI warns against gusts of wind, which can break branches or uproot trees.
“It is necessary to pay attention to safety, especially with regard to the danger of lightning strikes and injuries from falling and flying objects, or even hail,” meteorologists said in Friday’s warning. Drivers are advised not to drive at all, in case of price then to reduce speed and drive carefully.
Flood vigilance
From Friday evening, flood vigilance will also apply in several regions until Saturday. The CHMI issued a high degree of danger for Prague, South Bohemia and part of the Central Bohemian and Pilsen regions. According to meteorologists, water levels can be expected to rise to the level of the second degree of flood activity (SPA) in the first half of Saturday night. They add that they cannot rule out even the short-term achievement of the 3rd SPA.
“Rises with the character of flash floods are more in the first half of the night from Friday to Saturday, especially in areas with more rugged terrain, ie. in the mountains and uplands, “says CHMI. Residents are advised to avoid swimming or boating in the riverbed and its surroundings.
Flood vigilance also applies to the Vysočina region, part of the Plzeň, Liberec, Hradec Králové and Pardubice regions, and also to Znojmo in the south of Moravia and Dačice in southern Bohemia.