Cyclone to bring heavy rain and dangerous winds to Lithuania

LRT reports that Lithuania will face heavy rain and dangerous winds over the weekend, with weather conditions expected to improve only next week, according to Teresė Kaunienė, a forecaster at the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service.

An active and moisture-laden southern cyclone will move across the country over the next 24 hours. Cloud cover will increase on Saturday night, with intense and locally heavy rain expected in most districts, beginning in the south. Thunderstorms are also possible. Rain clouds will reach northern Lithuania only in the morning. Winds will change direction and reach 7 to 12 metres per second. Overnight temperatures will range from 11 to 16 degrees Celsius.

Saturday will be overcast in western and northern Lithuania, while the south and east will see cloudy skies with sunny intervals. Rain will fall across almost the entire country. It will be persistent and frequently heavy in the west and north, with some areas receiving very heavy rain. The southeast will experience intense showers, sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms.

Wind will be the most dangerous factor on Saturday. It will initially blow from the southeast and south before turning west and northwest. Speeds will increase to 15 to 17 metres per second, with gusts of 18 to 23 metres per second in many areas and up to 24 to 27 metres per second in some locations. On the coast, severe gusts of 28 to 30 metres per second are forecast.

Temperatures on Saturday will reach only 15 to 20 degrees in rainy western Lithuania, while the east will warm to 21 to 26 degrees.

Conditions will gradually improve on Sunday as the cyclone moves away. The night will be cloudy with sunny intervals, with brief, light rain mainly in western and northern districts. Thunderstorms may still occur in some places during the evening. Winds will weaken to 9 to 14 metres per second, although gusts of 15 to 20 metres per second will remain common. Overnight temperatures will fall to 9 to 14 degrees, or 15 to 17 degrees on the coast.

Sunday will bring changeable skies and brief showers in many areas, with some afternoon thunderstorms. Rain will generally be light, although it will be moderate in Samogitia. Winds will blow from the southwest and west at 9 to 14 metres per second, with local gusts of 15 to 17 metres per second. Temperatures will reach 17 to 22 degrees.

The cyclone will continue to influence the weather on Monday, bringing brief, relatively heavy showers in places at night and across much of the country during the day. Some thunderstorms are possible. Winds will ease to 6 to 11 metres per second overnight before turning northwest and strengthening to 8 to 13 metres per second during the day. Temperatures will range from 8 to 13 degrees overnight, or 14 to 16 degrees on the coast, and from 16 to 21 degrees during the day.

As the middle of next week approaches, the weather is expected to improve further, with more sunshine, lighter winds and a lower chance of rain. Nights will be fairly cool and locally foggy, while daytime temperatures will be moderate.