On Wednesday, September 11, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) issued a third-level, maximum flood danger warning across most regions of the Czech Republic.

This alert follows predictions of a significant increase in river levels due to continuous and heavy rainfall forecasted from Thursday to Sunday, September 12-15.

According to ČHMÚ, the south-eastern regions and mountainous areas in the north and north-east could receive an average of 150 to 250 mm of rain over the four-day period.

In some areas, particularly around the Jeseníky mountains, rainfall may exceed 300 mm. In other parts of the country, except for the western and north-western regions, rainfall levels are expected to range between 100 to 150 mm.

Extreme precipitation is also expected in the Vysočina, South Bohemia, Hradec Králové and Liberec regions.

In response to the escalating situation, Czech Environment Minister Marek Vyborny has scheduled an emergency briefing for 3:00 PM, where he is expected to provide further details on the measures being taken.

“These are really extreme rainfalls that may come to the Czech territory,” Environment Minister Petr Hladik told a news conference.

He said strong winds may fell trees, threatening lives and property. “There will be saturation of soil, forests, and flash floods may appear in places where they are not normally expected.”

He said the situation had forced the Czech authorities to reject a German request to reduce water discharge through the Elbe river, which Germany asked for after a road bridge collapsed in Dresden.

A lower rainfall and flood warning was issued for Prague, which suffered catastrophic floods in 2002, and western parts of the country.

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