Heavy rain raises flood risk in central and western Latvia

LSM reported that a yellow warning has been issued for flooding in river floodplains and low-lying areas in central and western Latvia.

Rainfall has caused river levels to rise rapidly, and they are expected to continue rising, with floodplains and lower areas likely to be inundated more widely, the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre told the LETA news agency.

The warning is in force from 6:45 p.m. on Sunday until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25.

Latvia was hit by a very strong storm on Saturday evening and overnight into Sunday, leaving more than a quarter of a million households without electricity. The highest rainfall in the previous 24 hours was recorded in Kolka, where 124 millimetres fell. Other parts of western Latvia and the central districts received between 40 and 80 millimetres.

The strongest wind gusts were recorded in Riga, reaching 31 metres per second. Gusts reached 27 metres per second in Jelgava and Rezekne, and 26 metres per second in Saldus, Stende, Ventspils and Bauska.