Extremely heavy rain hits capital Ljubljana, Slovenia

Extremely heavy rains hit parts of Slovenia on September 29, 2021, flooding more than 500 buildings in the capital Ljubljana alone. Meteorologists said this is the heaviest rainfall in the 160-year history of the country's meteorological measurements.

According to the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (ARSO), a record-breaking 96 mm (3.8 inches) of rain was registered at the meteorological station behind Bežigrad, Ljubljana between 19:00 and 20:00 UTC on September 29, with a total of 122 mm (4.8 inches), which exceeds the 250-year return period. In just 10 minutes, the city received 25 mm (1 inch).

The previous 1-hour record in the capital was 62 mm (2.4 inches) registered on August 11, 1951. The city's maximum 5-hour rainfall record is 113 mm (4.4 inches) set on October 22, 2014.

In 4 hours to 22:00 UTC on September 29, emergency services received more than 2 700 calls from affected citizens, with some of from their stranded in their vehicles.

More than 500 buildings were flooded in the capital alone (the worst affected), as well as roads, parking lots, and underpasses.

Featured image credit: Ines Podgoršek