The Czech Republic experienced frigid temperatures this Wednesday, with the mercury dropping below -20 °C in several areas. According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI), temperatures plunged below -20 °C in Orlické Záhoří near Rychnov nad Kněžnou, with many other locations seeing lows around -15 °C.
CHMI recorded the coldest temperatures in the Broumov and Rýmařov regions, markedly lower than traditionally colder places such as Šumava or the Jizerka settlement. “We can expect freezing nights at least until next Wednesday, and temperatures in some places will not get above zero even during the day,” noted the meteorologists.
Despite the current chill, weather predictions indicate that further snowfall is on the horizon. While the models have yet to agree on the exact location of the precipitation, some predict several tens of centimeters of snow for southern Bohemia and the Vysočina region. Snowfall is expected across the entire region.
“The most snowfall is expected on Friday and Saturday in the southern and southwestern half of the territory, even at the lowest altitudes,” CHMI states. For example, there is already 50 to 70 centimeters of snow on the ridges of the Krkonoše Mountains, with Šumava reporting between 40 and 60 centimeters, and around 30 centimeters of snow currently lying in the Ore Mountains and Jeseníky.
In the Alps, models suggest that up to a meter of fresh snow could fall. These conditions make it a time of extreme weather for the Czech Republic, with citizens urged to prepare for the cold and snowy conditions.