Severe storm hits Lithuania with tornado in Antanava and roof damage in Kaunas

A powerful storm swept across Lithuania on Friday evening, causing significant damage including a reported tornado in Antanava and roofs torn off buildings in Kaunas, according to LRT and ELTA.

The Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service recorded heavy downpours and thunderstorms in multiple regions, with the most intense rainfall in Marijampolė, Panevėžys, and Šiauliai counties. Forecasters warned of continued showers, thunderstorms, and wind gusts up to 15 m/s moving northeast across the country.

Residents shared images and videos in the Facebook group “Weather Enthusiasts” showing uprooted trees in Antanava after the tornado, as well as heavy rain in Kaunas, Radviliškis, and Joniškis. In Kaunas, strong winds ripped roofs from buildings, causing further destruction.

The storm also disrupted power supply to around 8,000 households, according to the national grid operator’s map.

Meteorologist Simona Dalinkevičiūtė noted that while weekend temperatures will remain warm, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected, particularly in eastern Lithuania on Friday night. Wind speeds may reach 15–17 m/s during storms, with temperatures dropping to 11–16°C overnight.

Saturday will bring partly cloudy skies with isolated showers, mainly in the northeast, and moderate westerly winds. Highs are forecast at 18–23°C. Sunday will see decreasing cloud cover, light winds, and a slight chance of rain in the southwest, with temperatures rising to 21–26°C—cooler only in the Curonian Spit.