Hail briefly brings winter back to Panevėžys district

A sudden summer hailstorm turned parts of Panevėžys district into a winter landscape on Monday, as heavy rain and hail flooded streets and residential yards, local outlet Jūsų Panevėžys reports.

The downpour in Piniava, a settlement in the district, left thick layers of hail covering roads, driveways, and gardens. Water pooled in low-lying areas, particularly along Pilėnų Street, submerging parts of residential properties and flowing through yards. The hail accumulated in dense white drifts, slowing drainage even after the rain stopped.

This is not the first extreme hail event in the area this summer. On July 5, the village of Kritižys recorded a sudden temperature drop from 24°C to 10°C during a storm. A more severe hailstorm in August 2023 caused significant damage in Panevėžys city and district, prompting a state of emergency. In May 2024, another storm brought hailstones of around 2 cm, quickly flooding city streets.

Weather forecasts for Tuesday predict overcast skies with possible light, brief rain in Panevėžys and surrounding areas. Temperatures will range from 13–15°C at night to 16–18°C during the day, with moderate westerly winds gusting up to 8–9 m/s.