Yellow weather warning issued across Latvia amid thunderstorm risk

The Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre has issued a yellow-level weather warning covering the entire country today. Starting from the western regions, thunderstorm clouds are expected to form in many areas throughout the day, bringing heavy rain showers.

Forecasters warn that sharp wind gusts of 15 to 19 metres per second are possible in some places, along with a risk of hail. During the morning hours, thunderstorms are most likely to be limited to certain areas, mainly southern Kurzeme and Zemgale, but by the afternoon the storms are expected to spread across most of the country.

Risk of flooding in low-lying areas

In some locations, the amount of rainfall in a short period could match what would normally be expected over an entire month. This raises the risk of flooding on streets, in courtyards, basements and other low-lying areas. While overall wind speeds during the day are expected to be relatively light and variable in direction, gusts within storm cells could be considerably stronger.

During sunny spells between storms, air temperatures are expected to rise to between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius. In Riga, the highest likelihood of rain and thunderstorms is expected in the afternoon, with light winds turning gusty during storms. The maximum temperature in the capital is forecast at around 20 degrees.

Current weather conditions are being driven by a low-pressure system, with atmospheric pressure at sea level ranging between 1009 and 1011 hectopascals. Residents are advised to monitor weather updates and exercise caution, particularly when outdoors during the afternoon hours.