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Severe storms hit Austria and the Czech Republic. Extreme rainfall could lead to flooding, landslides, and dangerous water levels.
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- Austria is threatened to sink in rain and snow – Up to 300 liters of precipitation expected
- Severe weather alert in Austria – Weather map turns red and violet
- Flood alert in Austria – First road closures established due to weather
- Red alert in Czech Republic – Severe weather situation escalating – Enormous amounts of precipitation
- “Once-in-a-hundred-years flood” is imminent – Critical weather situation in Austria
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Update from September 14, 8:55 AM: Heavy continuous rain has led to flood alerts across many rivers and streams in the Czech Republic. The highest warning level 3 (“Danger”) was applied on Saturday morning at more than 25 gauge stations, such as in Spindleruv Mlyn (Spindler’s Mill) in the upper reaches of the Elbe. Continued rising water levels are expected over the weekend. Particularly heavy rain fell in the Jeseníky Mountains and the Krkonošsko, as well as in South Bohemia and North Moravia.
According to the Czech weather service CHMU, 100 to 170 millimeters of precipitation fell in the most affected regions in the past 24 hours. In Mikulovice in the Jeseník district, water from the surrounding fields flooded homes and roads. Problems also arose from the Bela, a tributary of the Glatzer Neisse. Fire brigades set up barriers made of sandbags at numerous waterways. In many places, trees fell due to the saturated soils. Several train lines were interrupted.
People placing sandbags at the entrance of a restaurant in Prague to protect it from flooding. © Dana Kesnerova/dpa
Ship traffic in Prague halted due to expected flooding
In Prague, preparations for the expected Vltava floods are in full swing. Flood protection walls were to be erected in additional districts near the bank. Ship traffic has been halted. The peak flow was expected in the Czech capital during the night from Saturday with a flow of about 1000 cubic meters of water per second.
At the Elbe in Usti nad Labem (Aussig an der Elbe), the situation was still calm at normal water levels. The course of the large rivers in the Czech Republic is regulated by numerous dams. According to earlier statements by Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny, around 879 million cubic meters of free capacity for holding back the water masses were recently available nationwide.
Severe weather alert in Austria: First evacuations – “Magnitude like in Ahr Valley”
Update from September 14, 7:09 AM: In the night to Saturday, flooding occurred in neighboring countries Poland and the Czech Republic due to continuous rain. On Friday, emergency services in both countries, as well as in Austria and Slovakia, had already prepared for severe weather. The heavy precipitation east of the Elbe and Spree is also expected to raise the water levels of the Elbe in Saxony.
The cause of the rising Elbe levels, according to DWD information, is heavy rainfall in the catchment area of the Elbe and Vltava in the Czech Republic. In the neighboring country, the third flood alert level “Danger” was declared on around 20 rivers and streams, as reported by the news agency CTK. Elsewhere, sudden heavy rainfall has led to flooding. Czech television published recordings on X from the village of Mikulovice near the border with Poland. There, it can be seen how, early in the morning, water flooded homes, garages, and roads.
Firefighters in South Bohemia set up flood protection walls since Friday evening. They loaded sandbags at the Maltsch river and erected a prefabricated barrier at the Vltava riverbank. Meteorologists expect river gauges in the Czech Republic to continue rising over the weekend. Locally, between Friday and now, it has rained 50 to 110 liters per square meter.
Two villages in Poland evacuated due to flooding – 400 people brought to safety
The situation is also serious in southwestern Poland. In the Opole region, the Biala Glucholaska river has overflowed its banks. From the village of Glucholazy near the Czech border, 400 residents had to be brought to safety. Interior Minister Tomasz Simoniak was on site and posted pictures of the rescue workers’ activities on X. “One hundred firefighters and 60 police officers are engaged in the village,” wrote Simoniak. Some residents had to be evacuated from the village of Morow because the Mora river had overflowed its banks. In total, the fire departments in the region had 400 operations.
The Meteorological Institute continues to expect persistent rainfall. At 35 water measurement stations, the alert level has already been exceeded, the institute said on X.
Update from September 13, 9 PM: “The intensity of this rain is increasing hour by hour,” said weather expert Karsten Schwanke in the ARD news program regarding the overall weather situation. He looked at a precipitation map up to and including Monday. Accordingly, in southern Poland, Slovakia, and large parts of the Czech Republic and Austria, more than 100 liters per square meter will fall. “These are magnitudes we experienced in the Ahr Valley,” Schwanke continued. In mountainous areas, it could be much larger. The expert mentioned 300 to 400 liters per square meter.
Meanwhile, the city of Vienna has warned its citizens. It is stated from official sources: “For this weekend (14-15 September 2024), strong rainfall and storm gusts are predicted across the entire city area. The city of Vienna advises: avoid unnecessary travel and only stay in public space if absolutely necessary and only for a short time.” The Viennese streams (Liesing and Wienfluss) could “rise rapidly and flood riverbanks.”
Flood alert in Austria: First evacuations – Bundesliga games canceled
Update from September 13, 7:27 PM: The water levels in the Czech Republic and Austria have been steadily rising. For an Austrian municipality near the Czech border, this now has consequences. As wetter.at reports, the residents of Gars am Kamp north of Vienna are fearing for their homes after the Kamp has overflowed its banks. The rather smaller tributary of the Danube developed into a torrent during the afternoon and is now threatening to flood the municipality.
High levels of precipitation falling in Austria. © Frank Roeder/Imago
Meanwhile, Austria recorded its first injury due to the severe weather situation. An accident occurred on a saturated road, as wetter.at reports. The severity of the person’s injuries is unknown.
Austria is threatened to sink in rain and snow
Update from September 13, 5:45 PM: The severe weather situation in Austria is escalating. In addition to the highest warning level for rain, local authorities in the eastern alpine republic have now also issued urgent warnings due to snow. The highest warning level applies there as well. Additionally, it could have an impact on power supplies, as reported by wetter.at.
Rail transport has recently been restricted, and some segments can no longer be traversed. There are also warnings of impassable roads. Affected individuals should beware of fallen trees and property damage. Initial evacuations have been declared in Lower Austria. Some municipalities have been advised by wetter.at to leave their homes and seek safety.
Up to 300 liters of precipitation per square meter are expected. Additionally, hurricane-force winds are forecast to whip through large parts of Austria. The airport in Vienna reported its first storm-related delays, and the Austrian Football Bundesliga has already canceled games. Weather expert Jörg Kachelmann from Kachelmannwetter fears that the severe weather may last several more days, as mentioned on his X account. “It looks really bad for larger parts of Lower and Upper Austria,” wrote the meteorologist.
Severe weather in Austria and the Czech Republic: Expert fears extension to Germany
Update from September 13, 4:31 PM: The Foreign Office recently warned of severe weather conditions in Austria until the beginning of the week and issued safety advice accordingly. Caution is also advised for travel to southern Poland, according to the ministry. The situation is even more critical in neighboring Czech Republic. The government has already convened a crisis team.
The imminent flooding may not stop at the borders. Weather expert Jan Schenk explained to focus.de that elevated water levels were also to be expected in Germany starting Monday (September 16). The Elbe between Dresden and Schöna is particularly at risk. “The gauges in the Czech Republic are so concerning that we must also prepare for the worst,” Schenk, a meteorologist at The Weather Channel, told the news portal. “We will have flood alerts starting Monday.”
Flood concerns in Czech Republic: Government convenes crisis team
Update from September 13, 11:45 AM: Preparations for imminent flooding are underway along the rivers in the Czech Republic. The government has convened a crisis team. The discharge from the dams on the Vltava has been “rapidly increased,” Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny reported on X. On Friday, more than 300 cubic meters per second were released. This measure aims to keep capacities in the reservoirs free for the expected water masses later.
Severe weather in Germany: Imminent flooding situation in the Czech Republic is particularly monitored in Dresden
The developments in the neighboring country are currently being closely watched in Dresden due to the collapsed Carolabridge. The Vltava flows north of Prague into the Elbe. In the historic center of Prague, the fire brigade closed the sluices to Certovka (Devil’s Stream), a side canal of the Vltava. Flood protection walls are to be erected along the promenade during the day. The Czech meteorological service has extended its warning for strong to extreme rainfall for the weekend to most of the country. The situation could become particularly critical in the east of the Czech Republic. In Jeseník in the Jeseníky Mountains, forecasts indicate that up to 400 liters of precipitation per square meter could fall by Sunday.
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Numerous events have been canceled, including the wine festival in South Moravia with tens of thousands of visitors annually. A popular amateur cycling race on Jested, the local mountain of Liberec, has also been canceled. People in flood-prone areas have been urged to prepare evacuation bags and clear basements. Firefighters filled thousands of sandbags as a precaution.
Severe weather alert in Austria: Weather situation further adjusted – travel warning issued
While the Czech Republic watches the gauges nervously, Austria is also preparing for the weekend. Due to the expected heavy rainfall and storms in Austria, the Austrian Federal Railways have issued a travel warning. All passengers have been urged to postpone non-essential train trips between Friday and Sunday. Already booked tickets remain valid until September 18. Alternatively, ÖBB can refund the ticket price, as the company reported.
Already on Friday night, the railway line between Bad Hofgastein and Bad Gastein in the state of Salzburg was closed due to heavy snowfall. Several roads in Austria have been blocked due to fallen trees or stranded vehicles. Other routes, such as the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, were closed for safety reasons. In some areas, snow chains were mandatory.
So far, no major weather-related damages have been reported in Austria. In the southern state of Carinthia, the situation had already calmed down by Friday. No major flood hazards were expected along the rivers, according to the state’s hydrographic service.
Severe weather in Austria, Poland, and Czech Republic: Weather situation remains tense
Update from September 13, 9:30 AM: The weather situation remains tense. In light of continued rainfall, authorities in Poland have urged citizens to take precautions in case of flooding. People living in ground-floor apartments near rivers should prepare for flooding, said Deputy Interior Minister Wieslaw Lesniakiewicz to the radio station Rmf.fm. Garages should be emptied and cars parked in a safe place. “There may also be situations where there is temporarily no drinking water or no power.”
The Meteorological Institute issued a flood warning for the voivodeships of Lower Silesia, Opole, Silesia, and Lesser Poland due to the expected persistent rain in the coming days. There, up to 150 liters of water per square meter could fall, they stated in a release.
Fresh snow in several regions in Austria. © Alexander Hasselmayer/X | Matthias Markel/X
There is still no all-clear in Austria. According to the portal wetter.at, citing geosphere.at, rainfall from Thursday has already caused initial gauge increases. Accordingly, extreme precipitation amounts are still expected. According to the portal, citing ORF-Radio Ö3, a section of the ÖBB Tauern line has already been closed due to heavy snowfall since Friday. The affected stretch is between Bischofshofen and Spittal.
As Kleine Zeitung reports, it has also snowed in Obertauern by now. It is also reported that there has been a first snowfall in Carinthia. According to heute.at, flood protection measures are already being put in place in numerous regions. Accordingly, up to 300 liters per square meter are expected in places.
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Tense weather situation: The first snow has already fallen
Update from September 12, 8:30 PM: Some places in Austria have cooled by 20 degrees since last weekend, reports the platform 5 Minutes. The drop in temperature led to the first snowfall in mid-September. The snowline has dropped to 1000 to 1500 meters and the first mountains have been “sugar-coated,” including Turracherhöhe, Katschberg, and Nockalmstraße. First roads have been closed for safety considerations. Temporarily, there has also been snowfall in valleys such as Nötsch. However, nothing has settled yet. The increasing precipitation in the coming days could bring new enormous snow masses.
First roads in Austria closed for safety after snowfall. © picture alliance/dpa/APA | Expa/Johann Groder
Update from September 12, 7:38 PM: The announced severe weather has not yet caused any damage in Austria, reports the Austrian Press Agency on Thursday night. However, due to the sudden snowfall, there were disruptions and closures on higher roads in Styria and Carinthia. According to warnings from Geosphere Austria, the weather situation is expected to worsen in the coming days. “It looks really dramatic,” said Austrian Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler, referring to the predicted amounts of rain.
Severe weather alert in Austria
Update from September 12, 4:25 PM: Geosphere Austria illustrates the weather situation in Austria over the next few days in a video. While until Friday the precipitation amounts are in the medium range, by Saturday several areas on the map are colored violet. By Sunday, the red color indicates extreme precipitation, especially in the northeast. In the eastern half of Austria, 100 to 200 mm of precipitation is expected from Thursday to Sunday. In the north, it could be 300 to 400 mm.
Update from September 12, 3:15 PM: Low pressure “Anett” is causing severe weather in Austria. Numerous events have been canceled, including the marathon in Wachau. Meanwhile, in Carinthia, more mountain roads have been closed due to snow, as Kurier.at reports. The weather map from Geosphere Austria shows a red warning for the areas around Vienna and St. Pölten. This warning is valid until Tuesday (September 17) inclusive. Geosphere also warns of the potential impacts from the heavy rain:
- “Regional disruptions in road and rail traffic,
- Risk of mudslides and landslides,
- Flooding of buildings as well as green and arable land,
- Flooding in the areas of small and medium-sized flowing waters,
- Regional disruptions in energy supply”
Update from September 12, 1:40 PM: Authorities in Poland are also preparing for extreme rainfall, flooding, and inundations in the coming days. The highest alert level 3 has been declared in response to anticipated continuous rain in the districts of Lower Silesia, Silesia, and Opole. This was announced by the Meteorological Institute (IMGW). In the city of Wroclaw, Mayor Jacek Sutryk convened a crisis team because flooding of the Oder River is expected. Two festivals planned for the weekend have been postponed as a precaution. During the Oder flooding in 1997, a third of the city was inundated.
The Meteorological Institute warned of a rapid and dangerous rise in water levels in the rivers. “Despite currently low water levels and drought warnings, the intense rain will not have the opportunity to seep deep into the ground in a relatively short time, causing the water masses to flow at the surface,” it stated. Furthermore, it is expected that in many places, urban sewer systems will be unable to cope with the amounts of rainwater, leading to flooding.
Flood alert in Austria
Update from September 12, 12:20 PM: Winter arrival in Salzburg. According to several Austrian media outlets, snow has fallen in higher elevations. As Kurier.at reports, this has led to an early alpine descent.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross (ÖRK) warns of caution in Austria: “As an emergency organization, we are prepared for the coming days and will help on-site if necessary. But we also ask everyone to prepare for demanding circumstances,” said Gerry Foitik of ÖRK according to Kurier.at. People should ensure that they have “everything necessary at home”. He named drinking water, food, flashlights, and a battery-operated radio. According to several matching reports, road closures due to heavy precipitation have occurred on Sölkpass and Großglockner.
Red alert in the Czech Republic
Update from September 12, 11:30 AM: The weather situation is also escalating in the Czech Republic. In large parts of the country, a red warning level is in effect, as reported by the Czech weather service CHMU. The red alert corresponds to an “extreme danger level.”
Red warning level is in effect in large parts of the Czech Republic. © Screenshot CHMU
The country faces extreme precipitation and flooding in the coming days. Water has been released in advance from numerous dams to create capacity. At the hydropower plant Vrane on the Vltava river south of Prague, for example, the discharge has been increased from 40 to 120 cubic meters per second. This affects the Elbe, which merges with the Vltava at Melnik. At the gauge in Usti nad Labem (Aussig an der Elbe), water levels have risen. Attempts were also made to create space in the reservoirs on the Morava River, Dyje River, and Oder River in the eastern part.[/p>
“The situation we expect over the next four, possibly five days, is unfortunately very similar to the situation during the major floods of 1997 and 2002,” warned Czech Environment Minister Petr Hladik. At that time, there were the Oder flood (1997) and the Elbe flood (2002).
“Once-in-a-hundred-years flood” is imminent
Update from September 12, 10:40 AM: The weather situation in Austria is tense. The map of the country from GeoSphere Austria is colored and marked by warnings. In large parts of the country, an orange rain warning is in effect from Thursday (September 12) to Tuesday (September 17). Moreover, experts inform: “From Thursday to Tuesday, it will rain frequently and heavily in the northern catchment areas of the Alps as well as in northern Austria.” Local flooding is possible, and brooks and rivers may overflow their banks. The largest rainfall amounts are expected in the following areas:
- Northern Burgenland over Vienna
- Lower Austria
- Upper Austria
- Upper Styria to Salzburg.
“In the warning period, extensive rainfall of 100 to 200mm is likely, and in northern catchment areas, precipitation amounts of 300 to 400mm could accumulate,” GeoSphere Austria further informs.
The weather in Austria is characterized by severe weather. GeoSphere Austria predicts high precipitation amounts. © Screenshot GeoSphere Austria
Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) stated: “Our emergency services are ready to help and support wherever necessary.” Fire brigades, the federal army, and civil protection agencies are prepared. This was reported by several Austrian media. The predicted rainfall amounts could “subsequently result in a once-in-a-hundred-years flood,” said meteorologist Christian Csekits from Geosphere Austria to the Kronen Zeitung.
Flood alert in Austria and the Czech Republic: Enormous rainfall amounts expected – Experts are concerned
Our initial report from September 11: Munich – The countries of Austria and the Czech Republic face a massive weather situation. Meteorologists warn of an approaching low-pressure system, bringing massive rainfall and extreme flood risks. The southern and eastern parts of Austria and large parts of the Czech Republic are particularly affected, as rbb reports. The situation is exacerbated by the unusually high moisture content of the air masses brought north by a low-pressure system over the Mediterranean.
Extreme weather expected in Austria and the Czech Republic – “Gigantic rainfall amounts”
Meteorologists have been observing a threatening weather development for days. A low-pressure system approaching from the south, favored by the high water temperatures of the Mediterranean, is transporting enormous amounts of moisture into Central Europe. Heavy rainfall will also increase the flood risk in Germany starting Thursday (September 12).
Weather expert Ingo Bertram explained to the rbb that extreme precipitation could be on the horizon in the coming days. “Up to 400 millimeters of rain are expected, which is gigantic amounts of precipitation,” Bertram said.
To put that into perspective: In Brandenburg, a relatively dry region, around 550 to 600 millimeters (or liters per square meter) fall throughout the whole year. The average for Bavaria is, according to State Office for the Environment, at 942 millimeters per calendar year.
A low-pressure system moves across Europe. Austria and the Czech Republic face massive precipitation. © IMAGO / CHROMORANGE
Acute weather warning: Enormous rainfall expected in Austria and the Czech Republic
The so-called VB weather situation, originating from the Gulf of Genoa, leads the rain clouds over Italy and Austria up to the Czech Republic and Poland. This weather situation is known for its extreme precipitation and has previously led to catastrophic flooding situations.
Austrian meteorologists are extremely concerned. According to the Austrian news portal Puls 24, the country is facing a “precipitation weekend” that could lead to severe flooding. Meteorologist Manuel Kelemen explained to the portal that some weather models forecast precipitation of up to 400 liters per square meter by Sunday. “What the weather models are currently predicting is almost beyond comprehension from a meteorological point of view,” he commented on the forecasts.
Low-pressure systems from the Mediterranean cause severe weather situation: Southern Austria particularly affected
In particular, southern Austria will be affected by the rainfall, as Puls 24. However, the eastern regions, including the capital Vienna, must also prepare for massive rainfall. In addition to flooding, landslides and mudslides are possible, posing an additional danger to the population. Recently, two tourists from Garmisch-Partenkirchen had to be evacuated by rescue services during a climbing tour in the Zillertal.
While the forecasts highlight the dramatic nature of the situation, it remains unclear exactly how the low-pressure system will move and which areas will be most affected. Weather expert Ronald Porschke from wetter.com warns of a flood situation that could “cast everything into shadow”. He further explained: “A very large flood could be imminent in the southeast of Germany, as well as in neighboring countries like Austria and the Czech Republic.” If this scenario materializes, the amounts of rain could be three times higher than in comparable flooding events in the past.
The German Weather Service (DWD) is also commenting and warning of persistent rainfall in the coming days, which could be accompanied by severe thunderstorms. Particularly the eastern and southern parts of Germany, including Bavaria and Saxony, will be affected by the heavy rainfall.
Weather situation in Central Europe: Flood forecasts remain uncertain
The uncertainty regarding the exact course of the severe weather makes it difficult to make precise forecasts. According to the authorities, the flood situation in Austria and the Czech Republic can only be better assessed from Thursday onwards, when the precipitation amounts of the approaching low-pressure system are determined. The weather service further states, however, that one thing is certain: “Mudslides and flooding are possible. At some point, larger rivers like the Danube will also react to the rainfall.”
The situation is particularly urgent because past flood situations in Central Europe have also been linked to this weather situation. The Austrian Environment Ministry and disaster relief organizations are already preparing for possible evacuations and protective measures. In the USA, authorities and the civilian population are currently bracing for Hurricane Francine. It is expected that the hurricane will hit the southern coast of Louisiana by Wednesday evening . (ls)