Meteorologists have warned of severe thunderstorms with the possibility of hail and gusty winds in the northern half of the Czech Republic on Thursday afternoon and evening. The warning is in place from 4 pm to 9 pm and covers parts of the Ústí, Liberec, Středočeský, Karlovy Vary, and Královéhradecký regions. The storms are expected to be isolated but could bring winds of around 70 km/h, along with small hailstones.
The meteorologists also warned that the strong winds could break branches off trees, and people should take care of their safety, especially with the risk of lightning strikes and falling or flying objects. The outlook for the following days promises windy and rainy weather, with temperatures dropping over the weekend and snow returning to higher altitudes on Sunday.
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) predicts that temperatures will drop further next week, and even low-lying areas may see mixed or snow precipitation. Afternoon temperatures are not expected to exceed 10°C from Monday to Wednesday, with mornings frosty.
The unsettled weather follows a period of warm spring temperatures, which saw the country’s first 20°C day of the year in some places. While it is not uncommon to experience sudden weather changes in spring, the CHMI warns that the frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods, has been increasing due to climate change.