A massive storm system is set to sweep across the Czech Republic today, bringing with it a potentially devastating combination of supercell thunderstorms, extreme winds, and unusually large hail. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has issued warnings about this severe weather event, which will primarily affect Bohemia and western Moravia.
The storm system will begin its assault during the evening hours, with initial thunderstorms developing along the German-French border before rapidly moving through Bavaria and into the Czech Republic. By 7 PM, the western regions will experience the first impacts, with wind gusts potentially reaching an extraordinary 140 km/h (87 mph) as the system crosses the Šumava mountains.
What makes this weather event particularly dangerous is the perfect storm of atmospheric conditions. Meteorologists are tracking unusually high instability values exceeding 2000 j/kg, combined with significant wind shear – conditions that favor the development of powerful supercell thunderstorms. These storms could produce hailstones measuring between 5 and 10 centimeters in diameter.
The capital city of Prague and surrounding areas are expected to take a direct hit between 9 and 10 PM. The system will then continue its northeastern trajectory, impacting parts of the Liberec and Hradec Králové regions before moving into Poland.
This weather event may qualify as a “derecho” – a fast-moving windstorm characterized by a path of destruction extending over 400 kilometers. Such classification can only be confirmed after the event, based on documented damage and wind measurements.