Cyclone Boris prompts flood warnings across Czech Republic, Poland, and Austria while sudden snowstorm claims life in Italy
Cyclone Boris is forecast to drop up to 400 mm (15.7 inches) of rain to parts of central Europe over the next 3 days, prompting widespread flood warnings and emergency preparations in countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Germany and Slovakia. Parts of central Europe have already seen 200+ mm (8 inches) of rain over the past 2 days while a sudden snowstorm in Italy’s Dolomite mountains claimed the life of one person and left another one with severe hypothermia.
Image credit: EUMETSAT/Meteosat, Zoom Earth, The Watchers. Acquired at 11:00 UTC on September 13, 2024
- Countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, and Slovakia have installed flood barriers and sandbags in anticipation of severe flooding caused by Cyclone Boris.
- Forecasts predict up to 400 mm (15.7 inches) of rain in parts of the Czech Republic and Poland between September 13 and September 16, with Austria and Slovakia expecting up to 200 mm (7.9 inches) of rain.
- Authorities in the Czech Republic’s Moravia region are particularly concerned, as the area was severely impacted by floods in 1997 and 2002.
- Water levels along Austria’s Danube River could reach five- or ten-year highs, according to local media reports.
- Parts of southern Germany, especially Bavaria, are also preparing for severe rainfall and snow, with up to 50 cm (19.7 inches) of snow expected in the Alpine regions above 1 500 m (4 921 feet).
Cold air from the Atlantic Ocean moved over Iceland toward the Adriatic Sea this week, forming a formidable storm — named Cyclone Boris, and prompting officials in central European countries to issue widespread flood warnings. This is the second wave of severe weather to hit Europe within just 7 days, marking a sharp end to the European 2024 summer season.
The region has already seen an abrupt shift to cold weather, torrential rainfall, powerful winds, waterspouts, and snowstorms in the second half of the week.
Expecting further rainfall from Cyclone Boris, flood barriers and sandbags were installed across the region as countries prepared for what could be the worst flooding in decades. Authorities in the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, and Slovakia are on high alert, with weather forecasts predicting more torrential rainfall and powerful winds in the coming days.
Slovak meteorological service imeteo.sk said the precipitation expected could be greater than that which hit central Europe in 2013, which was then considered the worst in a thousand years.
Forecasters in the Czech Republic and Poland predict that some regions could receive up to 400 mm (15.7 inches) of rain between September 13 and 16 — that’s on top of heavy rains already seen this week. Meanwhile, Austria and Slovakia are expected to receive up to 200 mm (7.9 inches) of rainfall.
As a precaution, cultural events planned for the weekend have been canceled. The wine festival in Znojmo, Moravia, which typically attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually has also been canceled.
In the Czech Republic, cities in the eastern Moravia region have been preparing flood defenses, including erecting anti-flood barriers and setting up sandbags. Local authorities are particularly concerned, as the area was heavily affected by floods in 1997 and 2002.
“The current situation might be similar to the one we experienced in 1997 and 2002,” said Czech Environment Minister Petr Hladik. Those two flood events claimed dozens of lives and caused billions of dollars in damage.
Similar concerns are echoed in Poland, where the weather service has warned of the risk of local inundations from September 13 to September 15. Southern cities along the Oder River, such as Wrocław and Opole, are on high alert. “the predicted downpours are an absolute record for Wrocław.” Wrocław Mayor Jacek Sutryk said.
The city is expecting up to 380 mm (15 inches) of rain. In preparation, authorities have emptied water retention systems, and firefighters are on standby with high-capacity pumps. Wrocław’s mayor has also called a crisis commission to handle the situation.
Further south, Austria and Slovakia are implementing similar flood preparations. In the Austrian city of Villach, authorities are closing pedestrian walkways and cycling paths along the Drau River as they prepare for high water levels.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced that the country’s military is ready to deploy up to 1 000 soldiers between September 13 and September 15, if necessary. Slovakia’s fire brigade chief Adrian Mifkovic stated that mobile dams, stretching 5 – 6 km (3.1 – 3.7 miles), are on standby to help manage potential flooding.
In 1997, flooding in Moravia and Poland’s Oder River region claimed 50 lives and caused widespread destruction. Five years later, flooding in the western part of the Czech Republic left 17 dead, with damages surpassing those of the earlier event. This history of flooding has spurred cities to act quickly ahead of the coming rains, with local authorities working to ensure that flood defenses are in place before the worst of the storm hits.
In Austria, local media outlet ORF reported that water levels along the Danube River could reach five- or ten-year highs. In Slovakia, concerns are rising that the predicted rainfall could surpass levels seen during the 2013 floods, which were said to be a once-in-a-thousand-year event. Slovak voluntary firefighters and the army are on alert as they prepare for possible flooding.
Forecasters are predicting that parts of Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria could experience widespread flooding due to heavy rains. Meteorological services predict that up to 400 mm (15.7 inches) of rain could fall along the Polish-Czech border highlands over the 72 hours from September 13 to September 15. This could have significant consequences for surrounding towns and cities.
The Polish weather service has issued the highest level of weather warnings for the southern regions of Lower Silesia, Opole, and Silesia. Southern Poland is expected to experience rainfall ranging from 50 to 100 mm (2 – 3.9 inches) between September 12 and September 15, with mountainous areas possibly seeing even higher amounts.
In the Czech Republic, the eastern region of Moravia is bracing for its heaviest rainfall in over 20 years. Forecasters have also warned that winds could reach speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph). Czech authorities have warned that they might not be able to restrict or reduce water levels in the Elbe River, which flows into neighboring Germany. The eastern German city of Dresden is already grappling with infrastructure issues after a bridge over the River Elbe collapsed.
In southern Germany, parts of Bavaria are also preparing for severe weather, with forecasts predicting 60 – 100 mm (2.4 – 3.9 inches) of rain in some regions. The German Meteorological Service is also predicting the first significant snowfall of the year in Alpine regions above 1 500 m (4 921 feet), with up to 50 cm (19.7 inches) of snow expected.
On Friday, September 13, Italy’s Alpine Rescue Corps reported the tragic death of a 56-year-old Canadian woman who was caught in a sudden snowstorm while climbing in the Dolomite mountains. Her companion, who survived, was being treated for severe hypothermia.
According to the Alpine Rescue Corps, the two climbers, whose names and hometowns were not disclosed, became exhausted and began suffering from hypothermia after being overtaken by the storm. They were approximately 2 km (1.2 miles) from a mountain refuge when they called for help on Thursday evening.
Rescue teams responded quickly and managed to reach the climbers. However, severe weather conditions hampered evacuation efforts. Despite two attempts to airlift the woman from the mountain by helicopter, the worsening conditions made it impossible. The woman’s health continued to deteriorate, and unfortunately, she died on the mountain before she could be rescued.
References:
1 Central Europe Braces For Worst Floods In Decades- Barrons – September 12, 2024
2 Europe: Extreme weather warnings in Germany, Poland, Austria – DW – September 13, 2024
3 Central Europe braces for floods amid worrying forecasts – TVP – September 12, 2024
4 Canadian woman dies after being caught in a sudden snowstorm in Italy’s Dolomite mountains – AP – September 13, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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