Estonia’s storm warning downgraded as ferry services resume

Estonia’s second-level storm warning was downgraded to the first level by Sunday morning, although strong winds and heavy rain were still expected, ERR reported, citing the Weather Service.

The warning does not cover Ida-Viru and Lääne-Viru counties or Järva, Jõgeva and Tartu counties.

Heavy rain was expected to continue across Estonia during Sunday morning. Rainfall totals over a 24-hour period could reach 50 to 70 millimetres, and locally up to 90 millimetres.

South Estonia was expected to see southwesterly and westerly winds with gusts of up to 17 metres per second. The islands and western coast were forecast to experience northwesterly and northerly gusts of up to 22 metres per second, reaching 25 metres per second in coastal areas.

As of 7:46 a.m., 1,979 households in Estonia were without electricity, according to Elektrilevi. The figure stood at 3,410 on Saturday evening.

Ferry services resume

TS Laevad, which operates ferry services between Estonia’s islands and the mainland, said Saturday evening that the 8:30 a.m. Sunday departure from Heltermaa would be cancelled. By Sunday morning, the situation had changed, with sailings resuming according to schedule from Rohuküla port at 8:30 a.m. and from Heltermaa port at 10 a.m.

No changes were currently expected on the Virtsu-Kuivastu route.

Storm also hits Latvia and Lithuania

Lithuanian media reported that at least one person had died after being trapped under a falling tree. A woman was injured when a tree fell onto her car.

Lithuania’s rescue service received hundreds of calls about fallen trees, while more than 150,000 households were without electricity.

Latvia’s Weather Service also issued a storm warning. Outdoor events were cancelled, and roads were flooded in several places. Water collected beneath viaducts in Riga, disrupting traffic.