Central European countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland, are preparing for days of severe rainfall that forecasters warn could lead to “potentially catastrophic” flooding. Austrian authorities have sandbags ready, Czech reservoirs have been partially emptied, and flash floods are anticipated in Poland as up to 20cm (8 inches) of rain is expected across multiple regions.
In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk reassured citizens there is “no reason to panic,” but emergency measures are being taken as forecasts predict as much as 15cm (6 inches) of rain in four southern provinces. Poland’s territorial army is on alert, with two million sandbags stockpiled in the Malopolska province alone, and another million in Lower Silesia. Tusk emphasized that the country is preparing for localized flooding and flash floods, not a nationwide disaster.
Austria is already seeing travel disruption due to heavy rain and snowfall in the mountains. Chancellor Karl Nehammer has announced the army is ready to deploy up to 1,000 soldiers if needed. Rail lines, including parts of the Tauern railway in Salzburg, have been closed, with Austria experiencing its hottest August on record, making the sudden switch to extreme rainfall even more dramatic.
In the Czech Republic, memories of past floods that devastated Prague in 1997 and 2002 have prompted authorities to take no chances. Steel floodgates have been closed in parts of the capital, and a network of flood defenses costing over €1 billion has been activated. However, officials are focusing on regions in central and eastern parts of the country, such as North Moravia, where heavy rainfall could overwhelm rivers and dams.
As rainfall continues, attention is turning to how the region’s rivers will handle the additional water. The Czech government is monitoring the Vltava Cascade, a series of nine dams, to ensure they can accommodate the predicted surge in water flow.
With Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic all on high alert, authorities are hoping to mitigate the damage and avoid a repeat of past flood disasters. However, as severe weather sets in, the next few days will be critical for Central Europe.