Heavy storms batter Czechia: flooding and power outages across the country

Czechia is experiencing severe weather conditions on Saturday morning, including heavy rains and flooding across multiple regions. Since midnight, the country has been under intense rainfall, causing significant disruptions.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) has issued extreme flood warnings for several areas as river levels continue to rise. The weather is expected to persist with continued rainfall and strong winds. In Prague, precautionary measures against flooding are still underway, and there have been multiple public transport disruptions.

Floods & Warnings

Flooding has been reported in various parts of the country. The most severe flooding is occurring in the Olomouc Region, with 400 interventions reported by firefighters since Thursday. Areas including Jesenice, Písečná, and Žulová are among those affected, with flood stages reaching critical levels.

The Bělá River has overflowed its banks in Mikulovice and Česká Ves, resulting in road closures and the construction of sandbag dikes. Emergency services, including 60 firefighters with boats, are actively involved in rescue operations and evacuations.

The ČHMÚ has identified extreme flood risks in regions such as Frydlant, Jeseniky, Bruntal, Karvina, and Southern Bohemia. In the last 24 hours, rainfall in the Jeseníky and Krkonoše mountains has been particularly intense, with up to 164 millimeters recorded in some areas. River levels are notably high, with the third and highest flood warning level in effect at several locations, including the Smědá and Třebůvka rivers.

Power Outages

The severe weather has also led to widespread power outages. Over 63,000 households across Czechia are without electricity. The largest disruptions are in the Ústí Region, where more than 20,000 households are affected, followed by 13,000 households in the Liberec and Hradec Králové regions.

The outages are attributed to both fallen trees and wind damage. Emergency crews are working to restore power across the affected areas.

Travel Disruptions

Travel has been significantly impacted by the storm. Early this morning, trains were halted on approximately ten routes due to fallen trees and safety concerns. Firefighters have responded to 28 incidents on Czech railsways, including tree removal and water pumping. The most affected regions are Liberec and Hradec Králové.

Train services are expected to resume once conditions improve and safety checks are completed.

Measures in Prague

In Prague, heavy rainfall has led to the closure of the C Line entrances at the Muzeum metro station. The metro continues to run unaffected, with passengers advised to make use of the A Line entrances at the station.

Prague Zoo has also announced that it will not open to the public this weekend. Operation of the Petřín cable car has been suspended until further notice, and numerous public transport lines have been affected; an updated list can be found here.

The Czech capital continues to implement flood defense measures on Saturday, particularly in areas like Holešovice and Stromovka. The Vltava River's water level is expected to rise significantly, prompting the construction of flood barriers and the temporary suspension of river cruises.

The city's flood defenses are being bolstered in preparation for the anticipated peak of the river level, expected to reach its highest point overnight from Saturday to Sunday. Emergency services and local authorities are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating responses to mitigate the impact of the severe weather.

Prague's municipal info line (+420 800 100 000) will provide updates on flood measures between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. this weekend.