Strong winds cut power to 2,200 and topple coastal trees

About 2,200 customers in Klaipėda and Kaunas districts were without electricity on Friday morning as strong winds brought down trees along the coast, LRT reported. Electricity distribution operator ESO said most outages were in the Kaunas region, while reports from the coast were increasing.

ESO crews and contractors were heading to restore service, which the company said usually takes less than two hours. Fire and Rescue Department spokeswoman Jolita Orentaitė told BNS that a tree in Klaipėda fell onto three cars. Most reports of wind damage came from Neringa and Klaipėda, she said. By 10 a.m., the department had received about 10 reports, all from the coast.

The strongest gusts were forecast between noon and 2 p.m., particularly on the coast, where they could reach storm-force levels. ESO said about 200 of its own and contractor crews were ready to respond across Lithuania, compared with around 60 on a typical day. Additional crews were being organised for the weekend, and dispatch centres had also been reinforced.

Navigation in Klaipėda Port was restricted from 8 a.m. because of strong westerly winds, port authority spokeswoman Radvilė Rumšienė told BNS. Winds were around 18 metres per second and had reached 20.8 metres per second at times. Sea waves were 4 to 6.9 metres high. No ships were waiting to enter or leave the port.