The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) updated its thunderstorm warning on Wednesday, indicating that most of the country’s territory could experience severe storms throughout the day and night into Thursday. Due to the anticipated heavy rainfall, meteorologists are also expecting rising water levels. The first storms began forming in southern and central Bohemia before noon.
Southwest of Prague, a significant supercell storm is currently moving eastward. Meteorologists reported shortly after noon that this storm could bring large hail, intense but brief rainfall, and strong wind gusts. They also warned about intense storms in the Šluknov region and parts of the Bohemian Forest.
According to revised warnings, storms are not expected in the far west of Bohemia, particularly in parts of the Karlovy Vary and Plzeň regions. In the Czech regions, severe storms are expected until midnight, while in Moravia, Silesia, and eastern Bohemia, the threat will last until Thursday morning. The storms are expected to be less intense in parts of the Moravian-Silesian, Zlín, and Olomouc regions in the east of the country.
Due to the anticipated heavy and intense rainfall accompanying the storms, meteorologists have included warnings about rising water levels. Smaller streams in the zone from southwestern Bohemia through the Vysočina region and parts of the Pardubice and Olomouc regions could reach the second flood activity level.
Rainfall amounts are expected to exceed 70 millimetres in repeated storms, according to CHMI. These conditions will be accompanied by strong winds with gusts around 90 kilometres per hour and hailstones up to 3 centimetres in diameter. Additionally, a warning for high temperatures exceeding 34°C in the Elbe region and parts of Moravia and Silesia remains in effect for Wednesday.
Meteorologists have already announced that more severe storms are expected on Friday.