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Central Europe is bracing for the worst flooding in years

Central Europe is bracing for the worst flooding in years

Central Europe is preparing to face the worst floods in decades due to the passage of Cyclone Boris, which is expected this weekend, writes the BBC

Sandbags are being prepared in Austria, reservoirs have been emptied in the Czech Republic and major flooding is expected in Poland as forecasters warn of days of "potentially catastrophic" rain.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said there was "no reason to panic" after attending a flood risk conference in Wroclaw, amid forecasts of 15 cm (6 in) of rain in four southern provinces.
In Austria, heavy rain and snow in the mountains have already led to travel disruptions and Chancellor Karl Nehammer has said the army is ready to deploy up to 1,000 soldiers if necessary.

In the Czech Republic, the environment minister warned on Wednesday that the country could see a repeat of the catastrophic floods that hit it in 1997 and 2002.

Record rainfall is also expected in Poland between September 12 and 16, the mayor of Wrocław wrote in X.

"Predicted rainfall is an absolute record for Wrocław," wrote Jacek Sutryk on Twitter. "The IMGW [Meteorological Office] is predicting up to 380 liters of rain per square metre."

Sutryk has called in a special crisis team, canceled all public events in the city and put emergency services on high alert. 

Forecasters warned that advisories remain in place across the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland until at least September 16, and that strong winds, lightning and hail could accompany the storms.

"Heavy rainfall may cause flooding in low-lying areas and strong winds may cause property damage and power outages ," the website warned.

Rainfall is expected to reach around 50 liters per square meter in southwestern Poland on Thursday, and the IMGW has issued a warning for five provinces in the west of the country.

Heavy rain is expected to spread across southern Poland on Friday, with rainfall forecast at 50-80 liters per square meter and up to 100 liters per square meter in mountainous areas.


 

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