Storm floods Vilnius streets and disrupts traffic

Storm conditions have flooded streets in Vilnius and made several roads difficult or impossible to pass, LRT reported.

Forecasters had warned that a strong storm would move across Lithuania in the afternoon. The southern and southeastern regions were placed under a level two storm warning.

Late Saturday evening, lightning and heavy rain were reported. Residents said that streets in parts of Vilnius had flooded and traffic was difficult.

Drivers reported that Jeruzalės, Naugarduko, Kalvarijų, Olimpiečių and Geležinio Vilko streets, as well as the western bypass towards the city centre, were difficult or impossible to drive along. One reader said that only jeeps or other high vehicles could pass on the bypass towards the centre.

Residents of Vilnius and surrounding areas shared videos showing flooded streets, damaged trees and heavy objects blown over.

Stormy weather was also recorded near Joniškis and Alytus on Friday evening. On Saturday, thunderstorms were expected across much of Lithuania, with short periods of rain, locally heavy. Hail was also possible in some areas.

Thunderstorms could bring stronger winds, with gusts of 15 to 20 metres per second in some places, LRT Radio quoted forecaster Tadas Kantautas of the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service as saying.