Closures and transport disruptions: Preparations underway for flooding in Prague

Preparations are underway in Prague for widespread flooding, which is expected to impact much of the country this weekend.

In response to the threat of flooding, Prague’s city administration will close floodways in Prague 1, 2, and 5 districts. As a precaution, flood defenses are being constructed in key areas, including the city center, Zbraslav, and Libeň.

The Vltava River embankments will be closed at 7 p.m. today. Additionally, boat traffic on the river will be halted. According to the latest warnings, Prague faces an extreme flood risk due to heavy rainfall and strong winds, which are expected to begin this evening.

The closure of the embankments also involves the mandatory parking of vehicles and the removal objects such as dustbins that, in the event of a greater water flow, could endanger safety and property. Residents of these areas who do not remove their vehicles by 7 p.m. face towing.

"We do not underestimate the situation. All entities affected by the flood emergency are prepared, and preventive measures are being implemented. I want to appeal to everyone to heed any warnings and respect the measures that may come. It is primarily about their safety," said Prague mayor Bohuslav Svoboda in a press statement.

According to officials, Prague’s biggest challenge will be managing the inflow from the Sázava River, which is expected to bring significant flows that the city cannot regulate. The impact will also depend on how the inflow affects the Berounka River. To prepare, all water management systems in Prague are actively draining water to handle the increased flow into the Vltava River over the coming days.

The city stresses that these measures are precautionary and should not significantly disrupt traffic. Prague is urging organizers of outdoor events to cancel on Friday and over the weekend.

The capital's public transport authority posted an update to its social media this afternoon, asking commuters to monitor the situation via its app, website, and social networks as extreme weather conditions may cause disruptions to public transport.

“Due to the adverse weather forecast in the coming days, we are implementing preventive flood measures in coordination with the City of Prague crisis staff,” DPP wrote on Facebook. The first precaution is suspending the cable car operation at Petřín hill from 6 p.m. until further notice.

Additionally, an emergency telephone number has been established: +420 296 191 817.

Due to potential flooding and strong winds, the Union of Passenger Railway Carriers is urging travelers to reconsider train travel this weekend. Traffic is currently halted on some lines in Austria, and further restrictions will increase as the meteorological situation worsens.

In response to heavy rains and imminent flooding, Mapy.cz has launched a special flood map feature to track river conditions across the Czech Republic. The service, operated by Seznam.cz, provides real-time updates on river flows and flood activity in partnership with the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ).

Users can access detailed flow data, monitor trends, and view flood activity levels by clicking on specific points on the map. The display also highlights current road closures and will include any evacuation zones if determined by the Integrated Rescue System.

Additional flood monitoring information is available on the ČHMÚ and Ministry of Agriculture websites and on dedicated pages for the Vltava, Elbe, and Morava river basins.

Those in the capital can follow the praha.eu website and socials where all measures will be updated. The fire department has put together a list of advice for residents in flooding areas.