Heavy rain and destructive storm are expected in many areas this weekend

RIGA - On Saturday and into Sunday night, a cyclone unusually strong for summer will cross Latvia from the south, bringing heavy rain and significant wind damage, according to the weather forecast.

According to the latest data available early Friday morning, rain will begin in the southern part of the country on Saturday morning and will ease overnight into Sunday. In Kurzeme, Zemgale, and Vidzeme, precipitation will reach 30-80 millimeters, with the heaviest rain forecast for eastern Kurzeme, Zemgale, and western Vidzeme. The least amount of rain will fall in Latgale.

Thunderstorms are expected in some areas. In some places, the downpours will be very intense and may cause flooding in low-lying areas. Some smaller rivers may overflow, but flooding is not expected along the banks of major rivers. Lighter rain will also occur at times on Sunday and early next week, but the weather will turn dry as the week progresses.

The wind will begin to pick up during the day on Saturday, and by late afternoon and overnight into Sunday, it will develop into a storm in many areas. As the center of the cyclone crosses Latvia, wind directions will be variable. According to current forecasts, on Saturday evening and overnight into Sunday, west winds will intensify to gusts of 20-27 meters per second across most of the country, and on the Vidzeme coast, including the capital, gusts of up to 32 meters per second are possible.

Minimal wind damage is expected in western Kurzeme, while the rest of Latvia may see a large number of broken and uprooted trees and other damage. On the Vidzeme coast, waves may damage beach infrastructure.

Forecasts are still subject to change, so residents should stay up to date with the latest information.

A similar storm previously struck Latvia on July 29, 2024, when rescuers received a total of 1,500 calls regarding flood and storm damage. Rain damage is expected to be less severe this time, but the country as a whole may suffer greater losses due to the storm.

On Sunday, a gusty west wind will blow and there will be occasional rain; heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in some areas. On Monday, the wind will die down, but brief showers will continue in many areas, with thunderstorms expected in some places.