Czechia Faces Flooding Threat: What We Know So Far

Heavy rain has pounded mostly eastern parts of the Czech Republic since Thursday, and the most affected areas may see more than a third of annual rainfall over four days by Sunday.

Similar weather has been forecast around central Europe, including southern Germany and parts of Austria, Poland, and Slovakia over the coming days.

Střelecký Island has been closed due to safety concerns as heavy rainfall has destabilized trees in the area. Waterlogged soil has increased the risk of falling trees, prompting city authorities to advise residents to stay away from parks throughout the city.

The Vltava River has also seen dangerously high water levels, raising concerns about potential flooding. As a precaution, flood barriers are being constructed in high-risk areas, including Holešovice and Stromovka.

River transport has been completely suspended, with ferries and other boat traffic halted for the foreseeable future. In addition, Prague Zoo has been closed to the public to ensure the safety of both visitors and animals. Major parks such as Stromovka and Petřín have shut down their children’s playgrounds.

In the city center, rainwater caused a partial closure of the Muzeum Metro station on Friday night. Water seeping through the ceiling of one of the entrances led to the closure of the entryway, though metro services are otherwise running normally.

The severe weather has also disrupted life across the rest of the country. Over 63,000 households, particularly in the north, were left without electricity on Saturday morning. CEZ and E.ON, the country’s main energy suppliers, reported that fallen trees and high winds were responsible for the outages, with many of the worst-hit areas in north Bohemia.

Flood alerts have been issued in 145 locations across Czechia, with 27 regions now under an extreme flood warning. The Jizera Mountains and the Jeseníky region in the northeast are experiencing the fastest-rising water levels, and streams in these areas have reached critical levels.

Meteorologists have warned that conditions could worsen over the weekend. Winds of up to 100 km/h are expected, which could further exacerbate the situation. Additionally, sandbags are being distributed in vulnerable areas to help with flood prevention.